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THE 



METAMORPHOSES OF APULEIUS; 



ROMANCE OF THE SECOND CENTURY. 



THE 



/ 
METAMORPHOSES OF APUIEIUS ; 



ROMANCE OF THE SECOND CENTURY. 



TRANSLATED PROM THE LATIN, 



By sir GEORGE HEAD, 

AUTHOR OF " A TOITR OF MANY DAYS IN ROME ; " " HISTORICAL MEMOIRS 
OF CARDINAL PACCA," TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN, ETC. 



LONDON: 

LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. 
185L 






"^"^^^ 



TRINTED BT W. CLOWES AX!> SO.NS. STAMFORD SlREnT. 



TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 



The Metamorplioses of Apuleius is a work singular 
of its kind, — a genuine ancient romance, written 
at the beginning of the second century, replete with 
graphic and characteristic descriptions, scenes and inci- 
dents, exhibiting, in infinite variety, the habits, man- 
ners, and customs prevailing among the people in the 
provinces subject to the Roman empire. Under the 
form of a personal narrative, interspersed with episodes, 
are collected interesting, instructive, and amusing 
sketches relating to popular superstitions, religious 
ceremonies, social entertainments, proceedings of courts 
of law, dramatic spectacles of the amphitheatres, hordes 
of robbers, &c., &c., &c. Nevertheless, although the 
detail of marvellous and fabulous adventures, mingled 
with the conunon occurrences of every-day life at such 
an early period, must naturally be a species of light 
reading, calculated above all things to engage the 
attention of the general public, there is perhaps no 
work of the ancient writers with which they are so 
little acquainted. 
■ In order to account for a fact which at first sight 



VI TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 

would seem incompatible with tlie nature of a per- 
formance of extraordinary merit, it must be taken into 
consideration, that the work in question of Apuleius 
appears before the world in the singular predicament 
of a production written in Latin by a Greek and a 
foreigner. For Apuleius, the land of his birth having 
become a Eoman colony, made himself master of the 
language of the mother country without the aid of 
a preceptor, and composed in Latin the Metamorphoses, 
and all other of his works that have descended to 
posterity^ Therefore although everywhere throughout 
his writings there is most clear and abundant testimony 
of the varied knowledge he possessed, as well as of a 
fertile imagination, acute understanding, and peculiar 
facility of description, his language is deficient in 
elegant purity of Latinity to such a degree, that de- 
spite of the abundance of quaint, humorous fancies, 
that in easy, familiar^ and frequently eloquent diction 
he has embodied in an entertaining, well-concerted 
narrative, he can by no means be considered to deserve 
a place among genuine classic writers. 

The imperfection of the Latinity of the Metamor- 
phoses were a circumstance alone sufficient to account, to 
a great extent, for its limited circulation among classical 
students, and thence for its not acquiring a due meed 
of general celebrity ; though there have been hitherto 
other more serious obstacles in its way that require to 
be mentioned. Although Apuleius was a Platonic 
philosopher, and notwithstanding that the Metamor- 



TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE, vii 

phoses is written throughout in a highly moral tone, 
evidently with a moral object in view ; moreover, that 
the pagan hero of his tale, after being conducted 
through various vicissitudes, terminates his career in 
the ranks of the priesthood of the goddess Isis, and 
that the descriptions of religious forms and ceremonies 
exclusively compose the whole substance of the eleventh 
and last book; the pages nevertheless reflecting the 
spirit of a period seventeen hundred years ago, are 
occasionally deformed by passages such as, in the pre- 
sent state of civilization in the nineteenth century, are 
not to be tolerated. Moreover, in addition to the 
above objectionable qualities to free currency, Apuleius 
passes with extraordinary abruptness from subject to 
subject, and expresses himself not unfrequently with 
such conciseness and brevity, that here and there more 
time and attention are requisite thoroughly to compre- 
hend his meaning, than any reader under ordinary 
circumstances could be expected to bestow. Indeed, 
it may be cited as an instance of the prevailing ob- 
scurity, that in Valpy's London edition of the original, 
the proportion of explanatory notes in comparison to 
the text of the Metamorphoses are more than double. 
Finally, in all the Latin editions, the whole text, 
including narrative, episodes, &c., is confusedly 
jumbled together, without blank space between para- 
graphs, inverted commas to distinguish dialogue, or 
any auxiliary mark whatever — save the full stops that 
divide the sentences — to assist the eye of the reader, or 



viu TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 

enable him to anticipate* the frequent changes fi-om one 
subject to another of a totally different nature, which, 
occurring suddenly and unexpectedly, are calculated to 
break the continuity, and thereby perplex the main 
scheme of the story. 

In preparing the present translation for the public, 
I have not been actuated by the presumptuous expec- 
tation to enlighten the classical reader, but have merely 
been influenced by the desire of doing the utmost in 
my power to remove the dead weight that for a long 
period has rested upon an agreeable and excellent work 
of an ancient writer. I have therefore, in the first 
place, divested it of every syllable calculated to give 
offence to the most scrupulous reader; and in the 
next, have endeavoured to place the composition in the 
perspicuous form necessary to its perfect elucidation. 
Eendering into English, with strict fidelity, every 
thought and image emanating from the mind of the 
author, and giving the value and true signification of 
his words — not less anxious, at the same time, to pre- 
serve and develope the full scope and character of his 
performance — I have called it in my title-page, in addi- 
tion to its original designation, '' A EOMANCE ,0F THE 
SECOND CENTURY," — a title wliich, I trust, whether 
the book be resorted to merely as a version of the 
Latin original, or with reference to the light, amusing 
qualities of a romance, will not be found calculated 
either way to disappoint the reader. Accordingly, in 
order to assimilate it as much as possible to the above- 



TKANSLATOR'S PREFACE. ix 

• 

mentioned description, I have arranged the paragraphs, 
marked the dialogue in the usual way, and, especiallyj 
with regard to the episodes have given a distinct 
number and a name to each, and separated all by 
blank space at the beginning and at the end, in such 
a manner that, being thoroughly detached from the 
body of the text, the reader may have opportunity of 
perusing narrative or episodes distinct from one another 
as he may feel inclined. 

The period and the circumstances under which 
Apuleius composed his Metamorphoses are not known 
with precision, neither has it been ascertained when he 
himself flourished, farther than that he is supposed to 
have been about contemporary with Lucian, in the 
beginning of the second century. It is, at all events, 
generally admitted, that he was born of a good family at 
Madaura,* received the first rudiments of education at 
Carthage, thence proceeded to Athens to complete his 
studies, and afterwards set out on his travels through 
Italy, Greece, and Asia. 

There is, however, one romantic event recorded to 
have happened to him, that possibly may have influ- 
enced his mind with reference to the composition of the 
Metamorphoses. While on his way to Alexandria, 
he happened to fall sick at the town of Oea,f where his 
protracted visit in the house of a young man, his 
host, led to a matrimonial alliance with the young 

* A town in Numidia, S.W. of Carthage. 
t Now Tripoli. 



X TRANSLATOR'S ?REli'ACE. 

man's mother, a lady of large independent fortune, 
named Pudentilla, who had at that time been fourteen 
years a widow. Soon after the marriage was solenmized, 
the family of the lady, who as well as she herself 
appear to have been captivated at first with Apuleius's 
wit and learning, and to have anxiously promoted the 
alliance, joined all together in a conspiracy to dissolve 
the connexion; in order to prevent the alienation of 
Pudentilla's property. Accordingly they resolved to 
accuse Apuleius of the crime of witchcraft, on the 
ground that he had won the lady's heart by means of 
spells and incantations. On which ridiculous charge, 
sustained on proofs the most absurd and frivolous, he 
was arraigned with all the due formalities of the law, 
and the cause actually tried at Sabrata,* then a Eoman 
colony, before Claudius Maximus, the proconsul. On 
that occasion Apuleius pronounced in his defence the 
celebrated "Apology," one of the principal of his 
works now extant, and defeated his antagonists tri- 
umphantly. 

Although in that defence Apuleius never ventured 
to deny the existence of the deadly science of which he 
was accused, his forbearance is probably rather to be 
attributed to the desire of paying respect to the super- 
stitious feelings of the age in which he lived, than to 
his own actual belief in the power of sorcery. At all 
events, it is replete with satirical contempt of the 

• A maxitime towD in Africa, 70 miles from Tripoli, 



TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. xi 

cliarge of his adversaries, and in its tone is precisely 
such as might be expected from him at a period 
when witchcraft had been denounced by the enlightened 
men of the age more than a hundred years before. 
Horace, for instance, had given the world a graphic 
picture of his sentiments on the subject of witchcraft 
in that witty apostrophe,* where, turning into ridicule 
the mysteries of Canidia and Sagana, he immortalizes 
their doings on a moonlight night on the Esquiline, and 
describes them seized with a sudden ridiculous panic, 
taking flight, and running away in dismay, helter- 
skelter, leaving false hair, teeth, and all the redoubt- 
able implements of their art behind them. After all, 
Canidia, whom in his fifth epode he attacks so viru- 
lently in a mock heroic strain, was doubtless no more 
of a witch than some object of a former attachment 
who slighted him in her youth, and therefore he was 
ever after twitting her under various titles, for in- 
stance, under the name of Lydia,t or of Lyce, J and, last 
of all, in allusion to her age and grey hair, Canidia. 

Now, whether or not the mind of Apuleius may 
have been influenced by the opinions of his learned 
predecessors, even if it were only permitted to draw 
an infe^rence from the sarcastic tone of the defence 
above alluded to, there are sufficient grounds of proba- 
bility to come to the conclusion that, smarting under 
the vexatious and ludicrous charge of witchcraft made 

* Satire 8. t Lib. i. Od. 25. 

X Lib. iv. Od. 13. 



xii TRANSLATORS PREFACE. 

against him, lie had recourse to the composition of the 
Metamorphoses — which is generally believed to be a 
satire on the superstition and vices of the age — as a 
vehicle for his sarcastic humour. Upon which suppo- 
sition, therefore, it may be taken for granted that he 
availed himself, as the ground- work of his composition, 
of a pleasant fable of previous celebrity, which — relating 
to the miraculous adventures of a certain Lucius, who, 
by the magic art of the Thessalian witches, was trans- 
formed into an ass, and suffered a numerous train of 
vicissitudes till finally he was restored to his proper 
shape — particularly suited his purpose. 

This tale, however, commonly recognized under the 
title of the GoLDEN Ass, has been jointly attributed to 
Apuleius and to Lucian, which latter version, written 
in Greek, is unquestionably similar, and identical in 
the main features of the story; although — with the 
exception of the name of the hero Lucius, which is the 
same in both — the names of people and of places 
are different. Indeed, it is universally admitted that 
either both Apuleius and Lucian derived it from a 
common source, or that one took it from the other. 
By some, in a tone of slight confidence and on exceed- 
ingly slender authority, it is ascribed to one Lucius, of 
Patrae.* It matters little, however, whether Apuleius 
borrowed the story from Lucian or from Lucius of 
Patr«, though it is probable he took it from Lucian. 

* A town at the N.W. of Peloponnesus. 



TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. xiu 

But, on the other hand, it is almost incredible to 
imagine that Lncian took it from Apuleius, since he 
would hardly have condescended, even had he availed 
himself of the performance of a contemporary Latin 
author, to send before the world a Greek version so 
infinitely its inferior. Indeed, the Metamorphoses, as 
well in excellence of composition as in quantity, bears 
an overwhelming proportion to the version of Lucian, 
and contains, of matter which confessedly and undis- 
putedly belongs to Apuleius and to nobody else, the 
whole of the eleventh book and all the episodes, to- 
gether with very numerous increments and embellish- 
ments in the body of the narrative. 

Belonging to the latter portion — the literary pro- 
perty of Apuleius exclusively, to which no direct 
claim on the part of any other author has ever been 
made — the tale of Cupid and Psyche is to be especially 
noticed; which celebrated fable, written evidently 
with the intention to represent allegorically the career 
of the human soul, -^v/jn, through scenes of mortal 
tribulation to a state of celestial beatitude after death — 
since Apuleius entertained a deadly enmity to the 
Christians and their ceremonies,* and there is, more- 
over, no prevailing indication on the part of the writer 
of any direct definite ideas of a Christian throughout 
the story — must therefore be alone attributed to the 
beautiful images suggested involuntarily to his poetical 

* See note, page 306. 



XIV TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 

mind by those mysterious events wliicli had been 
promulgated during the preceding century : which 
splendid images he engrafted on a structure of heathen 
mythology, and thereby producing the fable in ques- 
tion, gave it a prominent place in the Metamorphoses. 
With the exception of Cupid and Psyche, which forms 
the fifth episode in the volume, all the remaining nine 
episodes, containing tales relating to crime, supersti- 
tion, the proceedings of criminal courts of justice, &c., 
being incidents of a character calculated to promote the 
object stated in the beginning, such as he might either 
have witnessed himself or heard of during his travels, 
it may be readily conceived that he introduced them 
accordingly, in order to compose the series of MiLESiAN 
Tales, which he states in his extremely short preface 
are strung together for the entertainment of the reader. 
Little, however, is to be gathered of the object and 
design of the author's work in the few introductory 
lines above alluded to, which, in the edition of Valpy, 
are not even dignified with the title of a preface, but 
incorporated with the body of the text at the opening 
of the book. With regard to the term " Milesian,"* 

* From Miletus, a town of Asia Minor, capital of Ionia, whose 
inhabitants were celebrated for a description of pleasant fictions 
that, par excellence, obtained among the ancients the epithet 
above cited. Miletus was also remarkable for the oracle of 
Apollo situated there ; and may be cotisidered in the high road 
to that eastern source whence the Arabian Nights and other 
agreeable imaginative productions of a like nature have conti- 



TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. xv 

the precise sense in wHcli it was intended to be ap- 
plied by Apnleius — whetber to the numerous incidents 
and anecdotes comprised in the narrative of the Goldeii 
Ass or to his episodes — must remain a matter of con- 
jecture ; though it is most probable that he merely 
meant to use it in a general sense, as applicable to the 
style and character of the various detached pieces col- 
lected together in his composition. 

Unquestionably, from the beginning to the end of 
the adventures of his hero Lucius, it was himself whom 
he intended to personate. Indeed, that such was his 
object, appears very clearly by a passage in the 
eleventh book, where he designates Lucius as a native 
of the city of Madaura,* his own birthplace. And 
again, in the description of the mock trial at Hypata, 
where Lucius was tried for his life for murder, of which 
description of the proceedings of the court, and the 
ludicrous circumstances connected with the charge, 
that appear to be directly pointed at the real charge 
of witchcraft on which he himself was actually tried at 
Sabrata, not a word is to be found in Lucian, but every 
syllable is the pure invention of Apuleius exclusively. 
In addition to the above instances, there are various 
others throughout the work that might be cited in 
support of the supposition that Apuleius and Lucius 
are to be considered as one and the same person ; 

nually emanated — even, as we learn by the term in question, 
before the time of Apuleius. 
* See page 407. 



XVI TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 

but having stated in general elucidation of the sub- 
ject all that occurs to my mind at present, I must 
beg leave here to conclude my preface by humbly 
submitting to the favourable attention of the reader, 
without farther delay, an English version of the Meta- 
morphoses, whence the means, I trust, will be afforded 
him of determining the proposed question on his own 
judgment. 

G. H. 

January 20th, 1851. 



PREFACE. 



Courteous Reader — If thou canst tolerate the writing 
of a reed plucked from the banks of the Nile on sheets 
of Egyptian papyrus, I will string together a collection 
of Milesian fables, and tickle thy benevolent ears with 
a merry wliispering. I will astonish thee with the 
adventures of men transformed into various shapes, 
and again restored to their original form. But before 
I begin, I will first briefly say who I am. 

Mount Hymettus of Attica, the Isthmus of Corinth, 
and the Spartan Tenedos, fertile lands immortalised in 
the works of our most celebrated authors, are my an- 
cient domicile, where in early youth I learnt pure 
Attic Greek. Afterwards coming to Rome, a stranger 
to the native language of the Quirites, I applied myself 
to the study without the assistance of a preceptor, and 
acquired it with painful labour. 

ISTow, therefore, at the commencement (albeit the 
change of language bear some relation to my subject — 
the Magic Art), let me ask thy pardon, lest aught 
exotic in the discourse of one unpractised in a foreign 
tongue ofiend thee. Listen then to a pleasant Greek 
story that will please thee. 



CONTENTS. 



BOOK I. 

Departure of Lucius from. Corinth — Overtakes two Travellers 
— Their Conversation. 

FiKST Episode. — Tale of Aristomenes, the Commercial Traveller. 

Arrives at Hypata — Delivers Letters of Introduction to Milo 
— Is received into Milo's House — Adventure in the Fish 
Market — An arbitrary Magistrate . . . Page 1 



BOOK II. 

Anxiety of Lucius relating to Witchcraft — Meets his Mother's 
Friend, Byi'rhsena — Atrium of Byrrhaena's Palace — Byr- 
rhsena cautions Lucius against the witch Pamphile, wife of 
his host Milo — Lucius, rejecting the advice of Byrrhaena, 
resolves to cultivate the acquaintance of Pamphile — In- 
gratiates himself with Fotis, Maid Servant of Pamphile — 
Lucius sups with Milo and Pamphile. 

Second Episode. — Diophanes the Chaldcean. 
Lucius sups with Byrrhsena. 

Third Episode. — Tale of Telephron, the Student. 
Lucius, returning home, kills three Men whom he takes to be 
Robbers 31 



XX CONTENTS. 

BOOK III. 

Lucius arrested for the Murder of three Citizens — Tried for 
his Life — Proceedings of the Trial — Unexpected termi- 
nation of the Trial — Lucius finds himself hoaxed — Fes- 
tival of the God of Laughter — Fotis the innocent cause of 
Lucius's Misfortune — Her interview with Lucius — Her 
Confession — Promises Lucius to give him an opportunity of 
seeing her mistress Pamphile transform herself into a Bird 
or other animal — Lucius witnesses the transformation of 
Pamphile into an Owl — Lucius, desirous of following Pam- 
phile's example, through the mistake of Fotis is changed into 
a Donkey — Ingratitude of Lucius's White Horse — Lucius, in 
the form of a Donkey, thrashed by his late servant — Milo's 
House attacked by Bobbers — Lucius seized by the Bobbers, 
loaded vdth plunder, and driven away . , Page QQ 



BOOK IV. 

Adventure of Lucius in a Kitchen Garden — Disappointed in 
search of an Antidote for his Enchantment — Caught by the 
Gardener — His escape — Pursued by Men and Dogs — 
Caught and cruelly beaten — Arrives at the Bobbers' Cave 
— The Bobbers' Dame — Conversation of the Bobbers. 

Fourth Episode.— IT^e Tale of the Bobber. 

Departure of Bobbers on an Excursion — Their return with a 
young Damsel — Her excessive Grief — The Damsel relates 
her History — The Bobbers' Dame comforts the Damsel with 
an entertaining Story. 

Fifth Episode. — Tale of Cupid arid Psyche . . 100 



BOOK V. 
Continuation of Fifth Episode. — Cupid and Psyche . 142 



CONTENTS. XXI 



BOOK VI. 

Conclusion of Fifth Episode. — Cupid and Psyche. 

Departure of Lucius with, the Eobbers to fetch Booty concealed 
in a Cave — Their return — Another departure without 
Lucius — Lucius resolves to escape — Lucius seized by the 
Eobbers' Dame — Lucius, assisted by the Damsel, defeats 
his Antagonist — Lucius carries off the Damsel — Lucius 
and the Damsel retaken by the Eobbers — Death of the 
Eobbers' Dame — The Eobbers condemn Lucius and the 
Damsel to suffer a cruel death . . . Page 177 



BOOK VII. 

Arrival of a Spy of the Eobbers from Hypata — Proposal to 
recruit their Troop — A new Eecruit — His History and 
liberal Contribution — The Eecruit chosen Leader of the 
Troop — Discussion relating to the fate of the Damsel and 
Lucius — a Sacrifice to Mars — Grand Supper of the Eobbers 

— the new Leader factotum — Lucius's displeasure at the 
new Leader's behaviour towards the Damsel — An inte- 
resting Discovery — Escape of the Damsel Charity with her 
lover Tlepolemus and Lucius — Their triumphal entry into 
the native City of Tlepolemus and Charity — Lucius sent to 
free Pasture — Is delivered to the care of the Master of the 
Stud of Horses — Lucius's Disappointment — Lucius put 
into a Mill — Lucius at last sent to Pasture — Lucius ill- 
used by the Horses — Lucius brings Wood from the Moun- 
tains — A cruel Donkey- driver — Lucius falsely accused by 
the Donkey-driver — Death of the Donkey-driver and escape 
of Lucius — Lucius seized by a Stranger — The Stranger 
taken, and Lucius retaken by the Servants of his late Master 

— Lucius cruelly beaten by the Mother of the Donkey- 
driver ..... 215 



xxii CONTENTS. 

BOOK VIII. 

Arrival of a Servant of Charity. 

Sixth Episode. — Death of Charity and Tlepolemus. 
Flight of the Master of the Stud of Horses with Lucius and 
the other animals — Wolves — A Miraculous Adventure in 
the Valley — Arrival at night in a Village. 

Seventh Episode. — Singular Fimishment of a Criminal. 
Lucius sold at a Fair — A Eeligious Impostor — Dancing- 
Priests of the Syrian Goddess — Their Impostures — Hos- 
pitably received in a great City — Lucius has a narrow 
escape of his Life Page 251 



BOOK IX. 

Lucius flies for refuge to the Supper-room — Supposed to be 
afflicted with Hydrophobia — The test of Water — Am- 
biguous Oracle of Priests of the Syrian Goddess — The 
Impostors arrested for Theft and Sacrilege — Lucius sold to 
a Baker — Lucius cruelly worked in a Mill — The Baker's 
wicked Wife - — Her traffic with Witches — Supernatural 
death of the Baker — Lucius sold to a poor Gardener — 
Visit of the Gardener to a Eich Neighbour — Supernatural 
Omens — Tragical occurrence. 

Eighth Episode. — The Bural Tyrant, 
Adventure of the Gardener with a Soldier — Gardener and 
Lucius take refuge in a house in the City — Lucius and the 
Gardener discovered and captured .... 293 



BOOK X. 

Departure of Lucius with his new Master, the Soldier — Their 
arrival at the House of a Decurion. 



CONTENTS. xxm 

Ninth Episode. — The Wicked Stepmother. 

Lucius sold to two brothers, Cook and Confectioner of a great 
Bersonage — Preference of Lucius to Human Food — His 
depredations discovered — Behaviour of Lucius at the Supper- 
table — The Company delighted at Lucius's Accomplish- 
ments and Sagacity — Preparations for a Gladiatorial Ex- 
hibition — The great Personage rides Lucius to Corinth — 
The great Personage proposes to make Lucius perform at the 
Amphitheatre. 

Tenth Episode. — A Woman condmined to he thrown to 
Wild Beasts. 
Dramatic representation at the Amphitheatre — Lucius makes 
his escape and gallops to Cenchrege . . . Page 328 



BOOK XL 

A Night Scene on the Sea-shore — Prayer of Lucius to the 
Goddess Isis — Auspicious Appearance and Answer of the 
Goddess — Procession of the Goddess — Lucius recovers his 
proper Shape — Address of the Priest of Isis to Lucius — 
Ceremony of the dedication of a Ship to the Goddess — 
Eeligious ceremony in the Temple — Lucius recovers his 
White Horse — Initiation of Lucius as a Priest of the Goddess 
Isis by Mithras, her High Priest — Lucius sets sail from 
Cenchreae and arrives at Eome — Second and third cere- 
monies of Initiation to the Mysteries of the Gods Osiris 
and Serapis — Lucius received into the College of the 
Pastophori ,372 



THE 

METAMORPHOSES OF APULEIUS: 

A 

EOMANCE OF THE SECOND CENTURY. 



BOOK I. 

Departure of Lucius from Corintli — Overtakes two Travellers — 
Their Conversation. 

FiEST Episode. — Tale of Aristomenes the Commercial Traveller. 

Arrives at Hypata — Delivers Letters of Litroduction to Milo — 
Is received into Milo's House — Adventure in the Fish- 
Market — An arbitrary Magistrate. 

My mother was descended from the celebrated Plutarch 
and his nephew, the philosopher Sextus, persons whose 
names are honourable to their posterity ; and my family 
derives its origin from Thessaly, whither, having an 
affair of business to transact, I one day set forth 
mounted on a milk-white native horse of that country. 
I had ridden over lofty mountains, slippery valleys, 
dew-sprinkled plams, and rough clodded ground in 
abundance, till at last, the horse becoming weary, and 
myself tired of sitting in the saddle, I jumped upon my 
feet on a piece of green turf before me in order to shake 

B 



2 JOURNEY TO THESSALY. Book I. 

off my fatigue. Taking tlie bit out of the horse's mouth, 
I carefully wiped the sweat off his forehead, rubbed 
his ears, and was leading him slowly forward at a 
gentle pace, step by step, in order to give opportunity 
for relief and refreshment, as stretching forward his 
head and neck he cropped a hasty breakfast from the 
greensward on each side as he went along, when sud- 
denly I found myself the third of two other travellers 
who by chance were on the road before me. As they 
were talking, I listened to hear the subject of their con- 
versation, when one, addressing himself to the other, 
and bursting into a laugh — 

'* A truce to such absurd stories," said he ; " prithee 
have done with thy monstrous lying." 

" Nay," said I, who have ever had a keen thirst to learn 
everything new, " speak rather what thou hast to say • 
for though not inquisitive nor desirous of universal 
knowledge, I delight, forsooth, to hear all I can. Be- 
sides, a pleasant entertaining story will help to relieve 
the steepness of the hill we are ascending." 

« Why," said the first speaker, " the lie he has just 
told has about as much truth in it as to declare that the 
magicians now-a-days are able to make rapid rivers 
turn right about and run backwards, lash the sluggish 
waves of the sea into violent motion, stop the breath of 
the winds, darken the sun, cause foam to drop from the 
moon, pluck the stars from their spheres, and turn day 
into night." 

" Then," replied I, addressing myself in a tone of 



Book I. JOURNEY TO THESSALY. 3 

somewhat more confidence than before to him who 
spoke first, " let it not tire nor trouble thee to tell us 
the remainder of thy story ;" and turning to the other, 
" Heavy are thy ears," I continued, " and stubborn 
thy heart thus to reject what peradventure may turn 
out to be true. Little surely dost thou know, by Her- 
cules ! the depraved opinions that men form relating 
to all the new things they see and hear, and how they 
reject as untrue facts that, on a nearer survey, are self- 
evident and easily comprehended. Why, 'twas only 
last evening, when endeavouring to eat faster than my 
companions, and swallow a piece of soft cheese larger 
than ordinary, the glutinous morsel sticking in my 
throat, and closing up the breath in my windpipe, had 
nearly choked me. Nevertheless, not long ago, these 
two very eyes of mine saw at Athens, in front of the 
Poecile portico, a mountebank insert in his gullet the 
terrible, very sharp blade of a sword ; and afterwards, 
in a similar manner, for a trifling remuneration, cram 
the iron point of a hunter's spear down his throat 
till he buried it deep in the viscera. Nay more; a 
slim, slender little lad got behind the fellow, and 
mounting upon the long handle, twisted, and twined, 
and played antics as if he had never a nerve nor a bone 
in his body. All of us who were present were lost in 
admiration to see him ; for he looked like the noble 
serpent of Esculapius clinging in slippery coils round 
its half-clipped knotted staff. But, I pray thee, 
thou the narrator of the wonderful story thy compa- 

B 2 



4 FIRST EPISODE. Book I. 

nion talks of, tell it us again from the beginning, and I 
will promise to believe thee so far that thou shalt be 
sure of thy reward beforehand, and have thy dinner 
gratis at the first inn we come to." 

" As to thy offer," replied the other, " 'tis well and 
good ; therefore I accept the proposal, and will begia 
once more my story, solemnly taking the divinity of 
the sun that shines upon us to witness that it is 
absolutely true. The events that I shall relate have 
not only actually happened, but are commonly in the 
mouths of the people all over Thessaly, as thou wilt 
know beyond all doubt at the first city we come 
to." 

With that, without more ado, the speaker com- 
menced his tale as follows. 



FIEST EPISODE. 

TALE OF AEISTOMENES, THE COlVDvIEECIAL TRAVELLER. 

My name is Aristomenes. As to my business and my 
country, I am a native of the island of -^gina, whence 
I have been travelling liither and thither through 
Thessaly, ^tolia, and Boeotia to procure articles of 
traffic, namely, honey of Hypata, cheese, and other 



Book I. FIRST EPISODE. 5 

similar comestibles. Having received information of a 
large quantity of new cheese of exquisite flavour to be 
had at Hypata, the principal city of Thessaly, at a very 
low price, I made the best of my way thither with the 
intention of buying it all. But, alas ! as frequently 
happens to me, starting in the morning with the left 
unlucky foot foremost, the main object of my journey 
was frustrated ; and I foimd, on my arrival, that the 
whole lot had been purchased only the day before by 
a great wholesale dealer of the name of Lupus. In 
order to refresh myself after my rapid journey and my 
disappointment, I made a visit to the baths at an early 
hour in the evening, where, all of a sudden, I per- 
ceived a former companion of my own, called Socrates, 
sitting on the ground, half covered with a tattered 
mantle, looking like a beggar of broken victuals and 
ofial in the streets, and so disguised by the paleness of 
his countenance and the miserably emaciated state of 
his body, that I scarcely recognised him. Such a 
lamentable figure was he that, eveii. when I approached 
near, I accosted him, although a particular acquaint- 
ance with whom I had been on intimate terms, with 
doubt and hesitation. 

" Mercy on us, my good friend Socrates !" said I, 
'* what a figure thou art ! Wliat means this misery ? 
What scandalous disgrace hath befallen thee ? Why, 
thy family, after seeking thee in vain by proclamation, 
have bewailed thee as dead ; thy funeral obsequies 
have been performed ; thy children have been provided 



6 FIRST EPISODE. Book I. 

with tutors by a decree of the province ; thy wife, by 
grief and continual lamentations, hath well nigh cried 
her eyes out ; and her parents are tormenting her to 
marry another husband in order to restore her good 
looks and bring joy to the household ; and now, for- 
sooth, here thou art, appearing again among us like 
a spectral apparition, to our eternal discomfiture." 

" Oh, Aristomenes !" answered he, " never hast thou 
experienced in thine own person the ups and downs, 
the slippery turns, the unaccountable caprices, and the 
vicissitudes of fortune," at the same time endeavouring 
from very shame to hide the blush that suffused his 
cheeks, the coarse, patched garment that he lifted to 
cover his face left half his body bare. Unable to en- 
dure the sorrowful spectacle, I stretched out my hand, 
and endeavoured to lift him up ; biit he buried his face 
in his rags and remained where he was, exclaiming — 
" Let me alone ! let me remain where I am ! Fortune, 
that hath brought me to this pitch of wretchedness, 
hath but a brief period left to enjoy her triumph," 

I nevertheless persisted in entreating him to get up 
and follow me, and clothing, though I can hardly say 
covering, his body with one of my own two garments, 
I prevailed on him to accompany me to the baths, 
where he was washed, scrubbed, and anointed, while I 
myself stood by and superintended an operation that, 
under present circumstances, was by no means super- 
fluous. So soon as he was properly cleansed and set to 
rights, I brought him to the inn, whither, tired as T 



Book I. FIRST EPISODE. 7 

was myself, I had the greatest difficulty to support 
him; but when we arrived there I got him put to 
bed, gave him as much food as he could eat, and com- 
forted him with a good cup of wine. Then I began to 
entertain him with the news of our country, till our 
conversation assumed by degrees a tendency to merri- 
ment, and becoming at first flippant and jocular, he at 
last actually grew talkative and noisy. By and by, 
all of a sudden, changing his tone, spitefully striking 
his forehead with his right hand, and heaving a bitter 
sigh from the bottom of his heart, 

*' Miserable man that I am!" he exclaimed, "the 
love of frequenting gladiatorial spectacles, since, as 
thou wilt remember, I departed on an affair of busi- 
ness to Macedonia, has brought me into this trouble. 
Thence, after ten months* absence, I was on my return 
homewards with a round sum of money, and had nearly 
arrived at the city of Larissa, where I intended to 
witness a spectacle then about to be exhibited, when I 
was attacked in a rugged, lonely valley by a numerous 
band of robbers and stripped of all I had. I escaped with 
my life with difficulty, and, reduced to a miserable state 
of penury, betook myself to a tavern kept by a certain 
old woman of the name of Meroe. This old woman, 
who was sufficiently well-looking for her age, when I 
had explained to her the cause of my long absence, had 
related the manner in which I had been robbed that 
very day, and expressed my earnest desire to reach my 
home, treated me, after she became acquainted with all 



8 FIEST EPISODE. Book I. 

these circumstances, with more than ordinary kindness, 
gave me a liberal supper and lodging gratuitously, and 
I remained in her house till the morning." 

Here Socrates, suddenly breaking off in his narrative, 
and lookuig round the room with an anxious coun- 
tenance ; " Hush ! " said he, placing his forefinger on 
his lips, as if there were listeners to .our conversation, 
" I dare tell thee no more lest, through the intemperate 
use of my tongue, that terrible woman smite me with 
some dire pestilence ! '* 

" What terrible woman dost thou mean ? " said I. 
" What more of that potent hostess of thine, that queen 
of tavern keepers ? " 

" She is a Avitch of power divine ! " replied Socrates ; 
" a witch able to drag down the firmament, to support 
the world on her shoulders, freeze fountains, crumble 
mountains, raise the dead, dethrone the Gods, extin- 
guish the stars, and illuminate the very depths of 
Tartarus!" 

" ]\Iarry ! let down thy tragic curtain," said I ; 
'' fold up thy scenic hangings, and, in ordinary lan- 
guage, say what thou hast to say." 

" jSTay then," he replied, " will one or two or how 
many more of her performances suffice thee? for 1 
can tell thee that the charms and incantations of the 
Ethiopians and Antipodes are, compared to hers, 
nought but dry leaves, as it were, of the magic art, 
and mere trifles. Listen, then, and hear the acts 
she hath perpetrated in broad daylight before many 



Book I. FIRST EPISODE. 9 

witnesse.s. In the first place, by pronouncing a single 
word she changed one of her lovers of whom she was 
jealous into a wild beaver, and exposed him to the 
persecution of the hunters, by way of retaliation for his 
slight of her. Then again because she had a grudge 
against a neighbouring innkeeper, for nothing more, 
forsooth ! than being of her own profession, she trans- 
formed him into a frog. Poor fellow ! he is now grown 
old; and hoarsely croaking, as it were, in the way of 
business to his old customers, sometimes sits buried in 
the dregs of his own wine, and at other times swims 
on the surface. Then there was a lawyer of the Forum 
who conducted a cause against her, and she changed 
him into a ram; so the lawyer still pleads his causes 
with his head, and gives rebutters and surrebutters 
as he used to do. Finally, there was the wife of one 
of her lovers, a chatterbox, who spoke scandal of her ; 
and happening to be then about to increase her family, 
she condemned her to remain ever since that time in 
the same condition. Accordingly 'tis now eight years, 
people say, she has been continually growing larger and 
larger as if going to be brought to bed of an elephant. 

*' At last she did so much mischief, and inflicted in- 
jury on so many persons, that public indignation became 
aroused, and the people, bent on wreaking cruel venge- 
ance, determined to stone her to death the next momingr. 
But, by virtue of her enchantments, she overturned the 
counsels of her enemies, and, Kke Medea, who first 
d)tained the truce of a single day from Creon, and then 

B 3 



i- 



10 FIRST EPISODE. Book I. 

reduced Hs house together with Ms daughter and 
himself to ashes ; so she, — as a few evenings ago when 
she was tipsj she told me herself, — set to work in a 
ditch with her deadly incantations, and wrought such 
a forcible spell, that the inhabitants for two whole days 
were closely confined to their houses. They neither 
could break the fastenings, nor unhinge the doors, nor 
make a breach in the walls ; but there remained close 
shut up till by mutual consent they one and all swore 
by everything good and solemn, not only never to 
lay hands upon her themselves, but even to protect 
her if attacked by others. When thus propitiated, she 
liberated the whole city with the exception of the prin- 
cipal conspirator, whom one stormy night she trans- 
ported with his whole family, house and all, wall's, 
foundations, and the very ground the house stood upon, 
close shut up by magic as it was, to another city situ- 
ated at the top of a very high mountain a hundred 
miles distant. The latter city was badly supplied with 
water, on account of its elevated position; and as, in 
consequence of the density of the population, there was 
no room for the mansion of the conspirator, she hastily 
put it down outside the walls, and there left it." 

" Faith, my good Socrates," said I, " 'tis a mar- 
vellous and fearful history thou hast related; like 
the point of a spear in the flesh, it has made a deep 
impression on my mind; truly am I smitten with 
serious fear and apprehension lest, through the super- 
natural power of this old woman, she may have over- 



Book I. FIRST EPISODE. 11 

heard our conversation. By all means let us lie down 
to rest immediately and be quiet, and, so soon as our 
night's sleep hath, sufficiently refreshed us, let us leave 
the house and get as far away as possible from the place 
before daylight." 

I had scarcely pronounced these words, when I per- 
ceived that the good Socrates, partly overcome by 
fatigue and excitement, and partly in consequence of 
having drank more wine than he had been lately accus- 
tomed to, was already fast asleep and snoring. I there- 
fore shut the chamber door, and having bolted it and 
carefully propped my bed against it to make it still 
more secure, I lay down upon the bed. After lying 
awake a little while in a state of trepidation, I began 
to close my eyes by degrees, but had scarcely lost my 
recollection when, a little before the third watch of 
the night, I heard all of a sudden a thundering crash — 
a noise greater than could possibly be produced by 
mortal robbers — and in an instant the door was burst 
open, thoroughly torn from the hinges, and thrown 
down in the room. At the same time the violence of 
the shock upset my small sorry bedstead, which, one 
crazy foot of rotten wood having given way, fell upon 
me topsy-turvy, and, as I was shaken out and rolled 
upon the floor, completely covered and concealed me- 
Notwithstanding the state of excessive fear I was in, 
I felt influenced by a singular natural sensation which, 
by the rule of contraries, in the same manner as tears 
arc frequently produced on joyful occasions, so tickled 



12 FIRST EPISODE. Book I. 

my fancy witK the resemblance of Aristomenes to a 
•tortoise, tliat I conld liardly refrain from laughter. 
However, wliile I was thus completely protected by the 
bed, and lying at my length on the ground sideways, 
I peeped out from underneath to see what was the 
matter, and saw two elderly women, one carrying in 
her hand a lighted lamp and the other a sponge and a 
drawn sword, approach Socrates as he lay sound asleep. 
Then said she of the sword and sponge to the other : 
" Look, sister Panthia, there lies my Ganymede, my 
dear Endymion, who hath laughed me to scorn, and, 
on account of my age, hath despised my love ; nay, not 
only hath he scandalously defamed me, but, forsooth, 
purposes to run away in the morning, and leave me, 
like another deserted Calypso, to bewail the loss of my 
crafty Ulysses in eternal solitude. And there ! " — 
added she, extending her right hand and pointing me 
out to Panthia, — " there! see his worthy counsellor 
Aristomenes, the proposer of the manoeuvre, frightened 
to death under the bed, and looking at all we are doing. 
Hso doubt he thinks to tell all he knows with impunity ; 
but, sooner or later, I '11 be a match for him, and not 
only shall he pay for peeping, but rue his last night's 
loquacity into the bargain." At these words, wretch 
that I was, a cold perspiration immediately overspread 
my body, my heart palpitated, and my very bowels 
trembled in such a manner that the bed that lay upon 
me shook. 

Meanwhile, replied the amiable Panthia, " Well, 



Book I. FIRST EPISODE. 13 

sister, what shall be done with Mm ? Wilt thou that 
we hack him in pieces at once, after the fashion of the 
Bacchantes, or, after binding liim hand and loot, shall 
Ave cut off liis ears ? " 

" Nay," replied Meroe, whose name I presently per- 
ceived was in accordance with her character, and herself 
just the person Socrates had described her — " Nay, let 
him live. He shall live," said she, " were it only to 
scratch a shallow hole for this wretch's grave." So 
saying, and drawing the head of Socrates a little towards 
her, she plunged the blade of the sword up to the hilt 
in the left side of his throat, holding at the same time 
a small vessel so carefully underneath, that, as the 
blood gushed out, not a single drop fell on the ground. 
All this I witnessed with my own eyes, and more be- 
sides ; for that pattern of humanity Meroe, fearing per- 
adventure to omit some due observance in the immola- 
tion of her victim, thrust her hand down to the very 
viscera, and, stirring round and round, caught hold of 
the heart of my miserable comrade, and dragged it from 
its socket, while, through his windpipe severed en- 
tirely by the sword, his last breath came bubbling forth 
with an indistinct gurgling sound through the orifice. 
Panthia then closing up the gaping wound with the 
sponge, exclaimed, " Oh sponge ! thou that wast born in 
the sea, beware how you pass a river." So soon as she 
had pronounced the latter words, both women left the 
room tlirough the open doorway, but had scarcely passed 
the threshold when the broken door resumed its pristine 



14 FIRST EPISODE. Book I. 

form and position, the liinges fell into their sockets, and 
the doorposts, bars, bolts, and fastenings were all re- 
stored to their proper places. 

I, meanwhile, lying on the ground, prostrate and 
almost inanimate, drenched in cold perspiration, naked 
as a newborn babe, or a criminal condemned to the 
cross, and tormented by a multitude of bitter reflec- 
tions, — the posthumous thoughts, as it were, of a mind 
that had survived its body, — reasoned with myself as 
follows. " "^^^at," said I, " will become of me in the 
morning when this poor man shall be found with his 
throat cut? Who, though I speak the truth, will 
believe me ? Thou, a strong man, they will say, if not 
able to defend thyself against a woman, might have 
called for help; on the contrary, thou hast seen the 
throat of a man cut under thy very eyes, and wert 
silent. Why was not a similar outrage perpetrated 
upon thyself? Wherefore hath the pitiless cruelty of 
the assassin spar-ed thee ? Why hath the natural im- 
pulse to conceal the evidence of a crime allowed thee, 
the witness, to live? Return then, they will say, to 
the death thou hast escaped." Such were the con- 
siderations that, repeated over and over again, entirely 
occupied my mind without remission till, the night 
being considerably spent and the morning approaching, 
thinking it advisable to get away clandestinely before 
the dawn of day, and, albeit with trembling solitary 
steps, pursue my journey, I rose up, and, taking my 
portmanteau, put the key in the lock. But the bolt, 



Book I. FIRST EPISODE. 15 

when I endeavoured to turn it, as it were, in its over- 
fidelity, notwithstanding the door had flown abroad of 
its own accord in the middle of the night, now delayed 
to obey the summons of its own key and refused to 
move. At last, after repeated turnings and griadings, 
I succeeded in opening it, and so soon as I was 
outside, 

" Holla ! " said I, calling to the porter; " where art 
thou ? I want thee to open the gates of the Inn. I 
must needs be away before daylight." 

** Open the gates of the Inn ! " repHed the porter, 
who was lying on the ground at the door, half asleep ; 
" dost thou not know the roads are infested by 
robbers? Why what manner of man art thou to 
begin thy journey at this time of night? By my 
troth ! thou art some rogue or other with a crime on 
thy conscience, and hast a mind to put an end to 
thyself. But the head on my shoulders is no pumpkin, 
nor care I to risk my life for such a one as thou art." 

"■ The day will break speedily," replied I, " and 
nought can robbers take from a poor traveller. Thou 
fool, dost thou not know that to strip a naked man 
were work for half a score gladiators ? " 

" How do I know," rejoined the porter, as, over- 
come by sleep and laziness, he turned round on his 
other side ; " how do I know," said he, " thou hast 
not murdered the companion that accompanied thee 
hither last night, and now wouldst fain make thy escape ? 
And now I think on't, I had a terrible dream in the 



16 FIRST EPISODE. Book I. 

night. Methought the earth opened and discovered 
the depths of Tartarus, and there, forsooth, I saw the 
hnngr J, ravenous dog Cerberus looking ready to devour 
me." 

Perceiving very clearly by these words of the 
porter, that the pitiless witch Meroe had been induced 
to spare my life, not from kindness and commiseration, 
but only for the further gratification of her cruelty, 
and to reserve me for the torments of the cross, I 
returned to my bedchamber with the full determination 
of terminating my existence, and for some time delibe- 
rated on the speediest method of accomplishing the 
object. But fortune seemed unwilling to provide me 
with any deadly implement, nor could I find anything 
at all in the room to suit my purpose till I bethought 
me of the little bed I had lain upon. Accordingly 
addressing myself to it as follows, " Dearest little 
bed," said I, '' partner in my troubles, and sole con- 
scious witness of last night's events, thou that alone 
can bear testimony to my innocence, furnish, I pray 
thee, to a wretch now hastening to the shades below a 
weapon to effect his purpose." With that I imme- 
diately began loosening the bed-cord, of which I flung 
one end over a beam which projected from the window, 
and made it fast ; and having then made a firm slip- 
knot at the other end, I inserted my neck in the noose. 
Then I mounted on the bed, where standing at a con- 
venient height for the fatal operation, I was endea- 
vouring to kick the support from under me, so that 



. 



Book I. FIRST EPISODE. 17 

my weight being thrown upon the rope, it might close 
my windpipe and stop my breath, when the rope all ol 
a sndden, being old and rotten, broke asunder, and I, 
falling with considerable force upon Socrates, who lay 
close by, tumbled him off his bed and rolled with him 
on the floor. 

At the same moment in came the porter, who 
burst into the room, exclaiming in a loud voice as 
he entered, "Holla! there; thou that a while ago 
wert in such a hurry to depart in the dark, what, art 
thou still snoring under the bedclothes ? " 

At these words, to my astonishment, whether owing 
to the discordant shouting of the porter, or to the acci- 
dent of my fall, Socrates, who I thought was dead, 
instantly sprang on his feet, and at the same time ex- 
claimed, " No wonder these hostlers are detested by all 
the travellers on the road ! Why, thou inquisitive, ill- 
mannered fellow, methinks thou hast a mind to steal 
something, that thou comest hither thus like a robber. 
Truly, thou hast awakened me out of a sound heavy 
sleep with thy bellowing." 

Overwhelmed with unexpected delight at the 
miracle, and embracing the porter in a fit of ecstasy, 
" FaithfuUest of porters 1 " said I, " my friend, my 
brother, my father, my everything ! never can I thank 
thee sufficiently for restoring to me the companion, of 
whose murder thou thyself when thou wast drunk 
awhile ago didst accuse me." Then I turned towards 
Socrates, and would have heartily embraced him too, 



18 FIRST EPISODE. Book I. 

but Socrates, tlie moment I came near, hastily retreated 
from me, saying, as he pushed me away, " Why, 
thou hast a grievous- bad odour ; where canst thou 
have been ?" 

And with that he began to question me more parti- 
cularly ; but I, thinking it prudent to be silent on the 
subject of the night's proceedings, evaded further in- 
quiry by uttering some absurd pleasantry, and pur- 
posely changed the conversation. Then taking him by 
the hand, " No more of ill smells," said I; ''come, let 
us go abroad and scent the freshness of the morning air 
while we pursue our journey." 

Upon wliich once more I took up my portmanteau, 
and having paid the innkeeper the expense of our 
lodgings, we set forward on our way. When we had 
proceeded a httle distance, and by the strong light that 
the beams of the risincr sun beo^an to throw on sur- 
rounding objects I very attentively and keenly scru- 
tinised the precise part of my comrade's throat which 
had been pierced by the sword, " Fool that thou art," 
said I to myself, " why, truly, thou wert buried in 
thy cups last night, and the overwhelming power of I 
the wine caused thee to dream all these outrageous fan- 
tasies. For, behold Socrates safe, sound, and hearty ! 
Where now is the wound ? where the sponge ? where 
even is the scar — aye, the scar — of a wound so deep, 
so recent, and so terrible ?" 

And with that, addressing myself to Socrates, 
" Well," said I, " may our trusty doctors affirm of 



Book I. FIRST EPISODE. 19 

those who retire to bed crapulous with overladen 
stomachs, that heavy sleep and shocking dreams 
are the consequence ; for there appeared to me in the 
night — to me who, in my evening cups, exceeded the 
bounds of temperance — most dire and dreadful images ; 
nay, at this very moment, I feel as if I were in a state 
of profanation, sprinkled with human blood." 

" 'Tis not with human blood," replied Socrates, 
smiling; "neither, verily, with any sort of perfume 
art thou sprinkled ; but, with regard to thy nocturnal 
fancies, I too in the night had a horrid dream, and me- 
thought my very heart was being torn from my bosom 
by the roots ; nay, I distinctly felt a pain there, and 
even- now not only do I pant for breath to think on't, 
but my knees tremble, my feet totter, and I actually 
require some food to refresh my faltering steps." 

At these words of Socrates I lifted my wallet from 
my shoulder, and hastily taking out of it a piece of 
cheese and some bread, " Behold," said I, " thy break- 
fast ready for thee ; let us go sit down under that plane 
tree." 

Thither we removed accordingly, and I myself took 
some refreshment, while Socrates for some time ate with 
a greedy appetite. Suddenly, as I was looking at him 
attentively, he appeared to grow faint, and the colour of 
his cheeks being thoroughly disturbed, his countenance 
first became sallow as boxwood, afterwards turned 
deadly pale, till, the scene of the nocturnal furies 
being fresh in my imagination, I was struck with 



20 FIRST EPISODE. Book I. 

sucli terror that the piece of bread I had put into my 
mouth, though a tiny morsel, stuck in the middle 
of my gullet, and would neither move up nor down. 
My apprehension, moreover, was increased by the 
number of people who now as the morning advanced 
were passing along the road ; for none of them, thought 
I to myself, will believe that one of two companions 
can thus be apparently the victim of a violent death 
without detriment to the other. Meanwhile Socrates 
continued to eat voraciously, till, having devoured a 
very large portion of a most excellent cheese, and 
taken as much as he could swallow, he began to call 
very impatiently for water to drink. Now, as there 
was a gentle silver stream, transparent as glass, and 
still as a placid lake, gliding along, not far from the 
roots of the plane tree, said I, " Behold yon rivulet ; 
its waters are bright as the Milky Way; go drink 
thy fill." 

Socrates, at these words, immediately rising up, 
wrapped his cloak about his loins, knelt down on the 
level margin of the bank, and leaning forward with his 
legs doubled under him, bent down greedily towards the 
water. But the instant the tips of his lips came in 
contact with the moist, dewy surface, the wound in his 
throat burst open to its full profound depth, the sponge 
rolled out, a few drops of blood followed the sponge', 
and the inanimate corpse would unquestionably have 
fallen into the river had I not laid hold of one of the 
feet and, with the utmost difficulty, dragged it to the 



I 



Book I. FIRST EPISODE. 21 

top of the bank. ***** Thus died Socrates ; and 
I, after passing some time in bewailing my unfortunate 
companion, buried him in the sandy ground in the 
eternal precincts of the river, whence, trembling fear- 
fully, and as it were afraid of my own shadow, I bade 
adieu to my home and country, flying through many 
and various desert places, like a conscience-stricken 
homicide. At last condemning myself to voluntary 
banishment, I married another wife and have settled in 
^tolia. 

END OF FIRST EPISODE. 



Here Aristomenes concluded his story ; and his com- 
panion, who had listened to it from the beginning with 
obstinate incredulity, now turning roimd and address- 
ing himself to me, "Was ever," said he, ''a more 
fabulous fable invented, or more absurd lies ever told ? 
Thou," he continued, " whom thy dress and appear- 
ance pronounce to be a person of liberal education, say, 
dost thou believe what he hath related to us ?" 

" For my part," replied I, " I consider nothing im- 
possible, and believe that all things inevitably happen 
to mortals according to the decrees of fate. I think, 
moreover, that to thyself, and to me, and to mankind 



/ 



22 ARRIVES AT HYPATA. Book I. 

in general, tlieie happen many wonderful occurrences, 
so wonderful, forsooth, as to have been perhaps within 
an ace of never happening at all, which would altoge- 
ther fail to obtain credibility in the eyes of an ignorant 
person. But this, by Hercules ! I do believe most 
truly, and truly thankful am I for it into the bargain ; 
we have been agTeeably entertained by a pleasant nar- 
rative that has diverted us from our fatigue, and en- 
abled us to pass over imperceptibly a good rough por- 
tion of a toilsome journey. Besides this horse of mine, 
metliinks, hath also reaped the benefit, since his rider, 
carried along by the ears> as I have been, must needs 
ride lightly. And now, forsooth, here are we arrived 
at the gate of the city whither we were going." 

That gate of the city was in fact the common termi- 
nation of the journey and of the story ; for there both 
my companions diverged to the left side of the road 
towards some villages, and I proceeded alone and en- 
tered the gate. When I had got inside, and had 
reached the first house of accommodation for travellers, 
I inquired of an old woman, the landlady, whether the 
city were Hypata; upon which the old lady nodded 
her head. 

'' Then," said I, "do you know among the first-class 
people in the town a person of the name of Milo ?" 

"Milo," rephed the old woman smiling, "is one of 
our first-class people truly, if such be the title of one 
whose house is among the first in the city, for there it 
stands yonder, 'tother side the Pomoerium." 



Book I. INQUIRES FOR MILO'S HOUSE. 23 

" Come, my good mother," said I, " a truce to this 
joking ; to what sect does Milo belong, and what man- 
ner of household does he entertain ?" 

"Do you see," replied the old lady, "that house, 
the last of all, with windows looking towards the city, 
and the door on one side with a narrow street in front ? 
that is Milo's house. Milo has abundance of ready 
money, but, though rich, hath a bad reputation ; nay, 
they call him a low, grovelling fellow of extraordinary 
avarice ; one, they say, who lives by usury, and realizes 
enormous profit on pledges of gold and silver. His 
household is miserable, his life secluded, and his occu- 
pation nothing but to count over and over again his 
rusty money. He has a wife and one solitary maid- 
servant, companions of his misery ; and for himself, 
whenever he goes abroad, his dress is almost the dress 
of a common beggar." 

At these words of the old lady I could not refrain 
from smiling ; and saying to myself at the same time, 
." Truly my friend Demeas has been wonderfully kind 
and considerate in providing me, during my travels, 
with a letter of introduction to such a singular person 
as Milo appears to be. In his house, at all events, one 
need not be afraid of smoke nor dread the smell of the 
kitchen." 

Thus saying, and thinking to myself, I walked on a 
little further., and presently, when I came to the door 
of the dwelling, finding the gate firmly barred and 
bolted, I began to call out for admittance. At last. 



24 MILO'S HOUSE. Book I. 

after I Had called and knocked a good while, a young 
damsel opened the door and came out. 

"Holla there!" said she, "you that are beating at 
the door so stoutly ; what hast thou brought with thee 
to pledge with my master ? What ! do you pretend to 
plead ignorance ? Do you not know that nought will 
serve you here but gold or silver?" 

" Think not so unwortliily of me/' said I, " but rather 
tell me whether I can be permitted to see thy master ?" 

" Aye, marry can you," said she, " but tell me first 
thy business." 

" I come from Corinth," said I, " and I have a 
letter from Demeas, who lives there, to thy master 
Milo." 

" Stay where you are," said she, ''while I go to.my 
master and announce thee." 

And having so said, she barred the door as fast as it 
was before and returned into the house. A few mi- 
nutes afterwards she came out again, and when she had 
opened the door, 

" My master," said she, " would fain see thee." 

I then entered the house and found Milo reclining 
on a very small couch, and just beginning supper with 
his wife sitting at his feet, and the table very scantily 
furnished.' 

" There," said Milo, pointing to the table, " behold 
thy entertainment." 

" 'Tis well," said I, giving him at the same time 
Demeas's letter. Milo having read the letter hastily,. 



Book I. PKESENTS LETTER OF INTRODUCTION. 25 

" My friend Demeas," said lie, " has done well to 
introduce to me sucK a worthy guest as thou art." 

So saying, and bidding his wife begone, he invited 
me to sit down in her place. 

" Sit thee down," said he, taking hold of my gar- 
ment, and pulling me towards him, as through bash- 
fulness I stood hesitating to seat myself in the lady's 
place on the couch. " Sit thee down, I say, here ; for 
we have no chairs, nor as much other furniture as we 
have need of, for fear of robbers." 

I did as I was desired, and so soon as I was seated 
my host thus addressed me — 

" Thy genteel figure," said he, " and, moreover, thy 
excessive modesty, lead me, if I rightly conjecture, to 
conchide that, as my friend Demeas informs me in his 
letter, thou art sprung from a good family ; wherefore, 
I pray thee, despise not the humble fare you will meet 
with in this poor dwelling-house. The room next to 
this shall be thy bedchamber, and will make thee a 
comfortable receptacle, which though small will appear 
to me a great deal larger through the honour conferred 
on it by thy occupation. Live then with us in this 
house of mine as thy fancy leads thee ; and if our 
slender household gods content thee, then wilt thou 
follow the glorious example, and wilt emulate the 
virtues of thy father's namesake, Theseus, who dis- 
dained not to accept the hospitality of the aged woroan 
Hecale." 

When Milo had thus spoken he called to the maid-ser- 

c 



2Q MILO'S DIRECTIONS TO FOTIS. Book I. 

vant. " Here, Fotis," said lie, " take our guest's bag- 
gage ; lay it carefully in yon bedchamber, and bestir 
thyself. Go, quick, to tlie store-room; bring towels 
for rubbing, oil for anointing, and all things need- 
ful. Then thou wilt conduct the stranger to the 
nearest baths ; for truly fatigued must he be after his 
long journey." 

When I heard these directions, and reflected on the 
account I had had of Milo's parsimonious habits, 
being desirous of estabKshing myself in his good graces, 
" None of the things you speak of," said I, " have I 
occasion for ; such I com in only carry with me on a 
journey, and as for the baths I can readily find my 
way thither by making inquiry. But I truly am most 
anxious about my horse, for the beast has carried me 
stoutly; therefore," continued I, addressing myself to 
the maid-servant, " I prithee, Fotis, take this money, 
and go buy hay and barley." 

Having arranged these matters and put my things in 
order in the bedchamber, I saUied forth to go to the 
baths ; but before I went thither inquired the way to 
the Forum Cupedinis, in order to provide myself with 
comestibles. When I arrived, I found a magnificent 
supply of fish exposed for sale in the market, and, 
asking the price of some, was told an hundred pieces of 
money, which I refused to give ; but bought them for 
twenty denarii, and was walking away with my bar- 
gain, when I was followed out of the Forum Cupedinis 
by one Pytheas, an old acquaintance with whom I had 



Book I. MEETS WITH PYTHEAS. 27 

been schoolfellow at Athens. He immediately recog- 
nised me, and coming up to me, embraced me very 
kindly. 

"By Gemini!" said be, "^my good friend Lucius, 
what a long time since I saw tbee ! By Hercules, not 
since we both left our schoolmaster ! Tell me, I pray, 
what has brought thee to this part of the world?" 

" All in good time," said I, " thou shalt know every- 
thing to-morrow ; but I perceive I have to congratulate 
thee ; for what do I see here ? Truly am I delighted 
that thou hast attained the object of thy ambition, 
which thy dress, thy magisterial appearance, thy at- 
tendants, and those fasces serve alike to proclaim." 

" Aye, by my troth !" replied he, " verily I am 
asdile and inspector of provisions; if it be to do 
marketing that thou comest hither, I can render thee 
good service." 

I decHned the offer, since what I had procured al- 
ready was amply sufficient for my supper; but Pytheas 
having caught sight of the basket, took hold of it, and. 
giving it a shake, in order to raise the fishes that 
were in it to a level surface, " What might you have 
paid for tliis refuse ?" said he. 

" I paid twenty denarii," said I, " and had trouble 
enough to persuade the fishmonger to take the money." 

The latter words were scarcely out of my mouth 
when Pytheas seized me by the right hand, and imme- 
diately led me straight back again into the Forum Cu- 
pedinis. 

C 2 



28 PYTHEAS AND THE FISHMONGER. Book I. 

" Now tell me," said he, " who sold you this good- 
for-nothing fish ?" 

I pointed to a little old man sitting in one corner of 
the Forum. Upon which Pytheas, by virtue of his 
aedileship, immediately began to harangue the old man 
severely. 

" What now," said he, in a very imperial tone of 
voice to the fishmonger, " hast thou no mercy left in 
thee, neither for our friends nor for strangers, to ask 
such an exorbitant price for thy pitiful fish ? Truly, if 
you persist to raise the price of articles in the market 
after this fashion, our city, now the flower of the pro- 
vince of Thessaly, will be deserted like a rock or a 
desert, from the dearness of provisions. But I'll make 
you smart for it ; nay, I'll teach you how rogues are 
dealt with while I am a magistrate." 

So saying, Pytheas, without more ado, emptied the 
basket in the middle of the road, and bade one of his 
attendants trample all the fishes imder his feet till they 
were crushed in pieces; which act having been per- 
formed to my friend's satisfaction, he, contented with 
the moral discipline inflicted on the fishmonger, recom- 
mended me to leave the Forum; "for," said he, 
" Lucius, I have sufficiently disgraced the little old 
fellow, and am satisfied." 

I, on the contrary, was astonished and almost in a 
state of stupefaction at thus being, owing to the sage 
advice of my schoolfellow, deprived at once of my 
money and my supper. However, I went to the baths, 



Book I. IIETURN TO MILO'S HOUSE. 29 

and afterwards, when I liad done bathing, betook my- 
self to the hostelry of Milo. 

When I arrived at Milo's house, I would have gone 
at once to my bedchamber. " But," said the maid- 
servant Fotis, " thy host is inquiring for thee." 

Aware of his penury, I would fain have excused my- 
self civilly, and said, " I had need of sleep rather than 
food to refresh myself after my journey/' 

Fotis delivered the message accordingly, but Milo 
himself came out, and, taking me by the right hand, 
courteously endeavoured to pull me in to supper, while 
I hung back and gently resisted. 

" But," said Milo, " until you accompany me I'll 
not quit thee." At the same time enforcing the latter 
words by an oath, he urged me so earnestly that 
finally I was obliged to give way to liis perseverance and 
obey whether I would or not. 

Accordingly he conducted me to that couch of his 
where I had been before, and having reclined himself 
upon it, began to ask me a great variety of questions. 

" How is our friend Demeas ?" said he ; " is he going 
on prosperously ? What sort of a wife has he ? How 
many children? What establishment of servants?" 

I answered every one of the above questions sepa- 
rately, and also replied unreservedly to various minute 
inquiries relating to the object of my journey ; but no 
sooner had I satisfied him on all these points than he 
became not less scrupulously inquisitive about my native 
town, and anxious to have intelligence of all the prin- 



30 MILO'S INQUISITIVENESS. Book I. 

cipal people in it, especially the prefect, till, partly in 
consequence of my desperately long journey, and 
partly owing to the interminable series of queries he 
proposed to me, I became so overwhelmed with drow- 
siness that sometimes I stopped short in the middle of 
my sentences, and frequently became utterly incapable 
of pronouncing a difficult word intelligibly. At length 
the loquacious old man permitted me to make my 
escape and retire to my bedchamber, where, without 
fear of indigestion — ^for his conversation was all I had 
got for supper— I threw myself down on the bed, and 
freely gave myself up to the repose I had so much 
need of. 



1 



Book II. ANXIETY ABOUT WITCHCRAFT. 31 



BOOK 11. 

Anxiety of Lucius relating to Witchcraft — Meets his Mother's 
Friend, Byrrh^na — Atrium of Byrrhsena's Palace — Byr- 
rhsena cautions Lucius against the witch Pamphile, wife of 
his host Milo — Lucius, rejecting the advice of Byrrhaena, 
resolves to cultivate the acquaintance of Pamphile — Ingra- 
tiates himself with Fotis, Maid Servant of Pamphile — Lucius 
sups with Milo and Pamphile. 

Second Episode. — Diophanes the CJialdcean. 
Lucius sups with Byrrheena. 

Third Episode. — Tale of Telephron, tlie Student. 
Lucius, returning home, kills three Men whom he takes to be 
Bobbers. 

So soon as tlie sun had chased the shades of night 
and nshered in the day, I awoke and instantly jumped 
out of bed, anxious, nay over-desirous, to become ac- 
quainted with all the rare, wonderful things to be seen 
in the neighbourhood. For now I felt I was in the 
heart of Thessaly, celebrated by the unanimous consent 
of the world for the incantations of magic ; and, more- 
over, in the very city alluded to in the beginning of 
the story of Aristomenes. Thus agitated between the 
earnest desire to investigate and the physical impulse 
of action, being in an extraordinary state of suspense 



32 MEETS BYRRHiENA. Book II. 

and excitement, and examining everything about me 
with singular curiosity, finally my imagination be- 
came so wrought upon, that I fancied all I saw different 
from what it appeared to be, and believed every object 
some living creature that a deadly spell had trans- 
formed into another inanimate shape. The stones I 
kicked with my feet might, for aught I knew to the 
contrary, be men and women petrified; the birds I 
heard singing, feathered human creatures; the trees 
that surrounded the Pomoerium, people covered in like 
manner with leaves; and even the very fountains 
liquefied human bodies. Nay, I should hardly have 
been surprised, such was the state of illusion I was in, 
to see the statues and pictures begin moving and walk- 
ing ; to hear the walls speak ; the oxen and live cattle 
of all kinds utter prophecies ; and an oracle from the 
heavenly regions of light suddenly proclaim its edict 
upon earth. Painfully, as it were stupified with 
anxiety, perceiving no visible vestige of the things I 
was seeking, and continuing to wander all over the city, 
unconscious of my whereabout like a drunken man, 
I was reeling from door to door gazing at everything, 
I saw, when, all ot a sudden, I found myself in the 
Forum Cupedinis, where J had been the day preceding 
There I beheld walkmg a little before me a lady, at 
tended by a numerous train of domestics ; accordingly 
I increased my pace, and soon overtaking her, per- 
ceived her at first sight to be a person of consequence. 
Golden earrings hung upon her cheeks, her dress was 



Book II. MEETS BYRRH^NA. 33 

covered with golden ornaments, and the stuflp of her 
garments also was in-wrought with gold. When I 
came up with her, an elderly gentleman, her com- 
panion, who walked close at her side, the moment 
he saw me, exclaimed, '' By Hercules, here is Lucius ! " 
and, without more ado, embraced me. He then im- 
mediately whispered to the lady a few words I did not 
hear, and turning again to me, " Will you not," said 
he, ' ' pay your respects to your relative ? Gro up to 
her and salute her." 

^'^I am not acquainted with the lady — I dare not," 
said I, turning away my head, while at the same time 
the colour rose in my cheeks, and I stood stock still. 
The lady looked me full in the face, and, addressing 
herself to her companion, " See," said she, " he hath 
his excellent mother, Salvia's, good breeding, and is 
inexpressibly like her into the bargain — tall enough in 
all conscience, a plump slender figure, clear com- 
plexion, and flaxen hair, which, like her, he wears 
plain and without aifectation. Then he has his mother's 
easy, particularly graceful carriage, and her blue beau- 
tiful eyes, that, keen and brilliant as an eagle's, wander 
in every direction." Then addressing herself to me, 
"My Lucius," she added, ''I have nursed thee in 
these very arms of mine, and no wonder ; for how 
could it possibly be otherwise, when not only am I 
related to thy mother by ties of kindred with the 
Plutarch family, but both of us had the same foster- 
mother, and were brought up and educated together ? 

c 3 



34 ATEIUM OF BYERH^NA'S PALACE. Book IL 

Indeed we entertained tlie affection of two sisters for 
one another, and have experienced similar fortunes in 
matrimony ; though thy mother's marriage, as regards 
rank, is superior ; and she hath made a more splendid 
alliance. In short, I am your mother's early friend 
Byrrhsena, whose name probably you have frequently 
heard from your tutors ; fain would I that you come to 
our house with the same confidence as if it were your 
own." 

The time occupied by the lady in speaking having 
given me an opportunity to digest my bashfulness, 
" Parent," replied I, while we continued to walk along, 
" I am unable to do an uncourteous act, and having 
nought to complain of Milo, I cannot desert his house 
without a reasonable pretence. I will, nevertheless, 
most diligently, so long as I remain there, seek every 
opportunity, consistent with the proper attention due 
to my host, to pay my respects to you whenever I come 
abroad." Then we entered into conversation, and 
talking on indifferent matters, beguiled the time as we 
went; till having proceeded a considerable distance 
along the street, we arrived ^t Byrrh^na's dwelling. 

In front of the house was a very beautiful atrium or 
quadrangle, with a column at each of the four angles, 
and each column supported a statue of the goddess 
Victory. The four statues stood each with extended 
wings planted upon a sphere, which unsteady support 
they appeared to be kicking away with their rosy feet ; 
so that, though the voluble ball was motionless, the 



Book II. ATRIUM OF BYREHiENA'S PALACE. 35 

figures seemed hardly to rest upon it, but rather to be 
suspended in the air. In the middle of the enclosure, 
precisely in the centre, fronting the spectator as he 
entered, was a singularly beautiful statue of Diana in 
Parian marble, whose gracefully balanced attitude and 
vigorous carriage rendered it a venerable, majestic object. 
This type of the deity was accompanied on each side 
by dogs, which, of Parian marble also, served for her 
supporters ; while their erect ears, savage-looking eyes, 
dilated nostrils, and snarling jaws were so naturally sculp- 
tured, that on hearing the barkings of the live dogs in 
the vicinity one might actually have imagined the noise 
proceeded from the marble throats of the latter. Their 
attitude was the chef-d'oeuvre of the sculptor's art, as, 
with fore feet and chests elevated in the act of running, 
their liind feet pressed the ground. Behind the statue 
of Diana, there was wrought out of a rough block of 
marble the similitude of a natural rock perforated by a 
cave, and overgrown with brushwood, leaves, moss, 
and herbage ; together with vines, and here and there 
small fruit trees ; and the reflection of the statue was 
seen upon the polished marble within the cave. Upon 
the extreme edge of the rock, above the aperture, 
apples and grapes hung pendulous, so exquisitely 
formed by art in imitation of nature, and so finely 
polished, that had fragrant autumn breathed upon 
them the tint of maturity, one might have thought to 
pluck and eat. Nay, reader, hadst thou leant forward 
and seen, amid other manifold truthful resemblances. 



36 BYHRH^NA CAUTIONS LUCIUS Book 11. 

the grapes reflected in the water of a fountain that in a 
softly nndulating stream emerged from below at the 
feet of the goddess, thou wouldst have seen the bunches 
agitated, like life itself, with gentle tremulous motion. 
And yet, forsooth, thou wouldst not have seen all ; for 
behold, as if in ambuscade amid the marble foliage, 
waiting the approach of Diana into the cave after bath- 
ing, and, though partly transformed and partaking 
the savage nature of a stag, there stood a figure of 
Action, gazing inquisitively on the shoulders of the 
goddess. 

Thrown into a state of extraordinary delight by all 
these beautiful objects, while I was scrupulously exa- 
mining one after another, Byrrhsena said a few words 
privately to her attendants, dismissed them, and, 
addressing herseF to me, '* Every tiling," said she, 
" you see here, I pray you, my dearest Lucius, look 
upon as your own. But I call to witness the Groddess, 
whose statue is before us, that I entertain the utmost 
fear and apprehension on your account, and am as 
earnestly desirous to set you on your guard, as if you 
were a son of my own. Beware, then— strenuously 
beware, I tell you, of the wicked arts and nefarious 
blandishments of Pamphile the wife of Milo, whom you 
say is your host. That woman is a most notoriously 
celebrated witch ; mistress, as is generally believed, of 
all sorts of sepulchral incantations. The dreadful crea- 
ture — who, they say, by the sHghtest pufi* of her breath 
upon the branch of a tree, a stone, or such other trifling 



Book II. AGAINST THE WITCH PAMPHILE. 37 

inanimate object, can extinguisli the light of the sun 
and stars, submerge the elements below the depths of 
Tartarus, and dissolve the whole world into its original 
chaos — is particularly apt to take a fancy to a good- 
looking young man like yourself, when, no sooner does 
she become enamoured, than turning her whole heart 
and mind towards him, she invades his inmost spirit 
with her artifices, and binds him in the eternal fetters 
of profound love ; or if perchance he be fastidious and 
resist her, she either changes her victim, in the 
twinkling of an eye, into a stone, an ox, or some other 
sort of animal, or annihilates him entirely. The thought 
lest you fall into such snares as these, troubles me 
exceedingly ; and caution is the more necessary, since 
your age and appearance render you particularly liable 
to the attacks of a woman like Pamphile, whose devices 
and manoeuvres are interminable." 

Such was the counsel Byrrhsena gave me in a most 
earnest and impressive tone ; while, on the other hand, 
the intelligence it conveyed on a subject relative to which 
my curiosity had recently been so warmly excited, 
rendered it so thoroughly inefficient, that far from feel- 
ing the slightest inclination to attend to her caution 
and beware of Pamphile, I resolved, on the contrary, 
to precipitate myself by a sudden jump at once into the 
abyss, and be a voluntary follower of her discipline, 
cost me what it would. Accordingly, I broke away 
from Byrrhsena in a frantic hurry, and ridding myself 
of the grasp of her hand, that seemed to hold me like 



38 LUCIUS KEJECTS THE ADVICE. Book II. 

an iron chain, I hastily pronounced the word " Adieu !" 
ran to the house of Milo as fast as my legs could 
carry me, and although my accelerated pace gave me 
the appearance of a madman, communed with myself 
all the way notwithstanding, in the following terms: 
"Now, then, Lucius," said I, ''be thyself and be 
careful; behold the opportunity, so long sought for, 
hath at length arrived, when thou mayest gorge thyself 
to thy heart's content with the miraculous. Thou art 
no longer a boy ; but art able to grapple, like a man, 
with the difficulties that beset thee. Manfully, there- 
fore, resist the wily arts of thy host's wife, Pamphile : 
but for the damsel Fotis, who hath wit and beauty, and 
a loquacious tongue that may enlighten thee on the 
object of thy pursuit, do all thou canst to gain her con- 
fidence and engage services that may aid thee. Did 
not the merry maiden arrange the chamber for thee 
yesterday night daintily ? Aye, and when all was done, 
she seemed loth to leave thee ; and more than once, 
methinks, on departing, inclined her head to cast a 
glance upon thee. Fear not, then, thus to exercise thy 
prudence in an agreeable and profitable adventure." 

Such were the resolutions that, passing in my mind 
all the time I was running to Milo's door, I had an 
opportunity the moment I arrived of beginning to 
put in execution, for Milo and his wife were abroad, 
and Fotis, when I entered the house, was busily em- 
ployed preparing a stuffed sausage for our dinner. The 
meat was already chopped upon a platter ready to be 



Book II. INGRATIATES HIMSELF WITH FOTIS. 39 

immersed in a ricli gravy, and tlie extraordinarily fra- 
grant fumes assailed my nostrils with a pleasing odour. 

Fotis was dressed in a style of scrupulous neatness, 
in a white, remarkably short-waisted, linen robe, girded 
by a bright-red riband; though I will content myself 
to speak of one alone of her various perfections, which 
I have ever considered the very first of female charms, 
according to the certain principles that regulate the 
consideration of the beautiful. And since the head is 
the most prominent and conspicuous feature of the 
person, and the native gloss of the female hair appears 
in striking and advantageous contrast with the gaudy 
artificial colours of the garments on the body and 
limbs, where could I have recourse to a more engaging 
theme ? 

The generality of women, conscious that their native 
loveliness surpasses the variegated and golden texture 
of their dresses, wear scanty clothing, and dispense with 
the upper portion of their robes, to display the roseate 
hue of their naked shoulders. And well they know, 
forsooth, that, deprived of her hair, and thus her coun- 
tenance (may heaven avert such a catastrophe !) divested 
of its principal ornament, the most lovely woman upon 
earth, were she dropped from the sky, or born in the 
sea and nourished in the waves, or even Venus ^^her- 
self, surrounded by the choir of Graces and a whole 
host of Cupids, — nay girded by the cestus fragrant 
with cinnamon and balsams, never would fascinate a 
Vulcan. 



40 INGRATIATES HIMSELF WITH FOTIS. Book II. 

How ineffably beautiful is tlie rich lustre of the female 
hair glistening in vegetative strength before the light 
of the sun ! Reflecting in brighter and milder shades 
the hues of burnished gold and honey colour, then 
shining with the blackness of the crow, and radiant 
with the prismatic blossom-tints of the pigeon's neck ! 
Again, when moistened with Arabian perfume, parted 
by the teeth of a delicate comb, and collected in a mass 
at the back of the head, it charms the approaching 
lover, and reflects his exhilarated countenance like a 
looking-glass. Such, in short, is the dignity properly 
belonging to this natural ornament, that whether a 
female be decked with gold, jewels, or silks, the most 
splendid articles of apparel, and all her adornment, are 
absolutely good for nothing, provided the distinctive 
feature of her person be not her hair. 

ISTow the hair of Fotis was remarkable for the 
extraordinary simplicity of its arrangement, and de- 
rived grace from the absence of all manner of artifice. 
Gathered together in luxuriant tresses and tied in a 
knot on the crown of the head, at the time in question, 
some of the curls hung pendulous adown her neck and 
throat, and others in sinuous ringlets . rested on her 
bosom, when, bending forward and stooping over the 
fire as I entered the apartment, she stirred the sapid 
contents of a saucepan with a brisk rotatory motion of 
the body and shoulders, that exhibited her delicate 
figure to wonderful advantage. Addressing myself to 
her, so soon as I came in — *' Grood morrow, sweet 



Book TI. INVITED TO SUP WITH MILO. 41 

maiden/' said I; *' verily thou art rendering good ser- 
vice with those fair hands of tliine; fortunate indeed 
are they who presently shall taste the banquet thou art 
preparing." 

"■ Away with thee from the fire," said she ; *' or the 
flame peradventure may scorch thee : nay, if a spark 
chance to go forth and light on thee, where then wilt 
thou find a doctor able to cure thee ?" 

" 'Twere a pleasure," I replied, " to be roasted alive 
in thy agreeable company." * * * * 

At this moment our conversation was interrupted by 
a knocking at the door, which Fotis having made haste 
to open, there entered a messenger from Byrrhsena, 
who brought me a complimentary present, such as it 
was the custom of the country to send to a newly 
arrived stranger. This present, or as it was termed 
* ' xeniola'' consisting of a fat pig, two couple and a half of 
fowls, and a cask of very rare old wine, I received with 
due acknowledgments, and had scarcely dismissed the 
messenger, when Milo and his wife returned; upon 
which I left the house and went to the baths. There I 
remained till I received a summons to supper from 
Milo, in obedience to which, returning, I placed myself 
by his side at a plain, neatly laid-out table. Not for- 
getful, however, of the caution of Byrrhaena, I retreated 
far away from mistress Pamphile, from whose coun- 
tenance, if I chanced to catch a glance, though never 
so momentary, my eyes, like birds smitten with the 
noxious vapours of the lake Avernus, suddenly fell on 



42 SUPS WITH MILO AND PAMPHILE. Book II. 

tlie groTuid. On the other hand I comforted myself by 
looking very frequently at the damsel Fotis, who was 
waiting on us. When it was evening, and the repast 
over, Pamphile looked at the lamp for some time very 
attentively, and said she, ' ' We shall have a terrible 
shower of rain to-morrow." 

Upon which her husband inquired " How she found 
that out?" 

" 'Tis the lamp," said she, "that predicts it." 

" Then," replied Milo, addressing himself to me and 
laughing, ' ' the lamp we feed with oil is a wonderful 
Sibyl, who, from her observatory in the candelabrum, 
controls everything that passes in heaven, and watches 
the sun himself" 

" Truly," said I, "this is only a primary experi- 
ment in this sort of divination ; I can imagine it pos- 
sible that the little flame, though ignited by the hand 
of man, may be endowed with cognizance of the greater 
celestial fire its parent, and thence have a knowledge 
of things about to happen in the firmament, — nay, by 
divine presage, may, as it were, announce the same 
to us here on earth. Why, at this very moment at 
Corinth, the place of my habitation, there is a certain 
stranger, a Chaldaean, disturbing the whole city by his 
wonderful replies to questions that are asked him, and 
disclosing the secrets of the Fates to the public for ! 
the consideration of a sum of money. He indicates the . 
proper day when people ought to be married; the day 



Book II. DIOPHANES THE CHALDEAN. 43 

when the foundations of a city should be laid, to have 
endurance ; the day to enter upon a coromercial specu- 
lation, or to set forth on a journey, or to go on a voy- 
age in a ship across the sea. Nay, I consulted him 
myself upon the probable result of my present journey, 
and was assured, among many other wonderful pro- 
mises, that I should become an author, be the writer 
of an incredible fable, and acquire extraordinary re- 
nown." 

On hearing the above descripti(5ii' of the Chaldsean, 
said Milo, smiling, *^ What sort of person is he, and 
what is his name ?" 

"He is a tall man," replied I; " his complexion 
dark, and they call him Diophanes." 

''The very same," quoth Milo, "and no other— 
that Chaldsean in like manner hath been in our neigh- 
bourhood telling many things to many people, and 
hath reahsed no small profit. And now, by my troth, 
while I think on't, I will tell thee a story about this 
Diophanes, whom fortune served scurvily at last, and 
played a cruel trick." 



44 SECOND EPISODE. Book II. 



SECOND EPISODE. 

DIOPHANES THE CHALDEAN. 

One morning, while Dioplianes was enunciating tlie 
decrees of the Fates to a vast crowd of people standing 
round him in a circle, a certain merchant, by name 
Cerdo, desirous of knowing when he ought to set forth 
on his journey, advanced to the front and inquired of 
him the proper day. Diophanes told the merchant the 
proper day accordingly, and having taken the sum of 
an himdred denarii, paid to him as the price of his divi- 
nation, and put it in Ms purse, which was well stocked 
beforehand, lo and behold ! a young man of noble mien 
came gently behind him, and gave a pull at his gar- 
ment. Upon which Diophanes, turning round sud- 
denly, A^^onderstruck at the unexpected appearance of 
the other, and for the moment forgetful of his occu- 
pation, embraced the young man affectionately, and 
bade him sit down beside him. " How glad am I to 
see thee !" said he ; " for truly anxious have I been 
about thee for a very long time. When didst thou 
arrive : 

" Early this evening," replied the other; "but, my 
brother, in thy turn tell me how is it thou hast made 
such a rapid journey hither by sea and by land from 
the island of Euboea?" 



Book IT. SECOND EPISODE. 45 

Here that egregious Chaldsean, Diophanes, taken 
aback and falling into a state of mental abstraction, 
replied, " 'Twere well if all our enemies and evil 
wisbers had to undergo such a dreadful Ulyssean voy- 
age as I had. For we had terrible weather, and were 
assailed by storms and hurricanes continually. Our 
ship lost her mast and rudder, and our pilot not being 
able to make the port, we ran aground some distance 
from the land; myself and all the passengers were 
nearly swallowed up in the ocean, had to swim for 
our lives, and lost everything we had. But this was 
not the end of our misfortunes; for having at last, 
with great difficulty, got on shore, and proceeded a 
little distance up the country with a few articles 
of necessaries, supplied us through the benevolent 
commiseration of friends and of strangers, a band of 
robbers suddenly attacked us, and we were a second 
time stripped of all we possessed. My poor brother 
Arisuatus, the only one of our party who offered re- 
sistance, lost his life by endeavouring to intimidate the 
assailants. They cut his throat before my eyes." While 
Diophanes was thus proceeding in a very doleful strain 
to tell the remainder of his story, the merchant, Cerdo, 
suddenly whipped up the purse containing the money 
he had paid as the price of the divination which the 
other had laid down before him, and was out of sight in 
an instant ; upon which the loud fit of laughter that burst 
forth among the spectators awakened Diophanes from 



46 MILO'S TEDIOUS CONVERSATION. Book II. 

Ms fit of abstraction, and iie saw at once the blunder lie 
had committed tbrougli Hs indiscretion. 

END OF SECOND EPISODE. 



When Milo bad finished his story he afterwards con- 
tinued to prose on for a considerable time in a strain of 
grievous prolixity, till I groaned inwardly in spirit, 
and took to myself no small share of blame for being 
the wilfiil cause, by the remarks I had made about the 
lamp, of bringing upon myself the penalty of his tedious 
conversation, and losing a large poi'tion of the evening 
and its best enjoyments. At last exclaimed Milo, 
"Joking apart, master Lucius, I wish the Chaldsean may 
have predicted rightly as to the happy, prosperous 
journey that he promised thee." 

'• I ask thy pardon," repHed I, determined to take | 
courage and stand no longer upon ceremony, " but I 
will crave thy kind permission to bid adieu to Dio- 
phanes, and leave him to his destiny. Little doth it , 
boot me whether the spoils he took from the people ' 
lie at the bottom of the sea or are lost on dry land, for 
my bones still ache grievously from yesterday's fatigue, 
and I must needs retire to rest thus early." So saying, 



Book II. INVITED TO SUP WITH BYRRH^NA. 47 

I immediately betook myself to my bedcliainber and lay 
down to rest. 

Early tlie next morning a servant of Byrrli^na ar- 
rived at Milo's house with a message from his mis- 
tress, to ask me to a little supper. I earnestly re- 
quested to be allowed to decline the invitation, but 
the messenger eame a second time, saying the lady 
would take no denial ; so, being in a dilemma what to 
do, I determined to make an oracle of Fotis, and be 
guided by her counsel. Fotis at first seemed little in- 
clined that I should stir from home at all, but finally 
agreed that I should accept Byrrhsena's invitation — 
" though," said she, " have a care : return home early; 
for fear of the faction of mad-headed young nobles who 
infest the town at present and commit awful enormities. 
People are murdered continually, and their bodies fre- 
quently seen all over the town, lying in the middle of 
the streets. Neither are the g-uard of the Prefect of 
the province, in consequence of the distance of their 
location, able to prevent these outrages. Thy dress and 
appearance may cause thee to be waylaid by robbers, 
who will, moreover, have a contempt for thee as a 
foreigner." 

" Sweet Fotis," I replied, "quiet thy apprehensions. 
Unwillingly do I go to sup abroad ; and right anxious 
shall I be to return speedily and remove thy fears alto- 
gether. Neither shall I be quite alone or unattended; 
for, as is my usual custom on such occasions, I shall, by 
way of protection, carry a small dagger in my belt." 



48 LUCIUS SUPS WITH BYREH^NA. Book II. 

Having equipped myself axjcordingly, wlien tlie time 
arrived I proceeded to the liouse of Bjrrli^na, where, 
as the lady was a person of prime consequence in the city, 
I found a very numerous assemblage of first-rate com- 
pany and a most splendid supper, consisting of all man- 
ner of dehcacies. The couches, with feet and mouldings 
of highly polished ivory, were covered with cloth in- 
wrought with gold ; and the capacious cups, unique in 
value but of extraordinary variety in design, were of 
all manner of beautiful graceful forms. One was of 
glass, beautifully wrought with embossed figures ; an- 
other of pure crystal, a third of bright silver, a fourth 
of glittering gold, and a fifth exquisitely wrought out 
of a piece of amber. In short, there were such things 
to be seen here as one would have thought unpossible 
to have been made by the hand of man. The dishes 
were abundant, the attendants of the table numerous, 
and their dresses splendid. We were admirably waited 
upon by young damsels; and frequently curly-pated 
youths offered to the guests cups formed out of precious 
stones, containing exquisite old wine. Presently lights 
were brought in; and as the tone of conversation 
became more convivial and animated, quizzing jokes 
were freely bandied from one person to another across 
the table, and the shouts of laughter were loud and 
frequent, when Byrrhsena addressed herself to me, 
and, said she, ''What tliink you now? Will you be 
able to pass your time agreeably in this our country ? 
Methinks our temples, our baths, and our public works 



I 



Book IL LUCIUS SUPS WITH BYRRH^NA. 49 

are excelled nowhere ; and as for comestibles, we are 
celebrated for our manner of living. Here, too, a per- 
son may be at Hs ease, and do just as lie pleases: 
for the man of business has the bustle of the Eo- 
man metropolis, while another of quiet domestic 
habits enjoys the tranquillity of a village. In short, 
all pleasure-seeking people in the province resort ^to 
Hypata." 

" All is perfectly true that you say," replied I ; " nor 
did I ever feel more completely at liberty in any other 
place I ever was in. But," added I smiling, " I am 
sadly frightened at the accounts I hear of the dealers 
in the magic art — of their dark mysterious dens and 
irresistible power. Wliy, they say that in this country 
the dead bodies cannot rest in their graves ; that the 
corpses are mutilated, and pieces of flesh ripped from 
the bones for spells to ejichant tlie living. Nay, 'tis 
affirmed that such is the wonderful fancy the old hags 
have for the flesh of a foreigner, if the native of another 
country happen to die, they exert uncommon nimble- 
ness on the occasion, and either anticipate the time of 
the funeral procession by performing the business be- 
forehand, or do their work of depredation upon the 
body while on the blazing pile." 

*' Aye marry do they," rejoined one of the guests at 
table ; *' neither is any living man safe from them. Ask 
one of our friends here, who can tell all about it, for 
they have grievously lacerated his face and spoilt his 
beauty." 

D 



50 LUCIUS SUPS WITH BYRRH^NA. Book II. 

At these words an uncontrolled fit of laughter burst 
forth among all the company, and the eyes of every 
person at table were in an instant directed to one of the 
party who sat by himself in a corner ; moreover, the 
merriment was continued so long and pertinaciously 
that the individual became confused ; and presently, 
muttering a few words to himself, was about to leave 
the room in a fit of indignation, when Byrrhsena ad- 
dressed herself to him, and said, " Nay, my good 
Telephron, do not think of leaving us, but with thy 
wonted good humour relate to us that story of thine 
about the witches; my son Lucius here has never 
heard that wonderful narrative which thou hast told so 
often." 

" Aye willingly v/ould I, lady," replied he, " were 
the manners of the people about me in accordance with 
your affability and good breeding ; but the insolence of 
some of these guests is quite intolerable." 

The above words were pronounced in a tone of 
deep excitement ; nevertheless, Byrrh^na repeated her 
request, and declared it would make her quite ill if the 
other refused; upon which Telephron, forced in a 
manner to do what she wished against his will, con- 
sented to tell the story. Accordingly he immediately 
proceeded to prepare himself with all due formality. 
First gathering up the covering of his couch to rest his 
elbow upon, then raising his body a little, and putting 
himself in the proper position, he stretched out his 
right hand after the manner of our orators, with the 



Book II. THIRD EPISODE. 51 

third and fourth fingers closed, the rest pointing 
straight forward, and the thumb directed downwards, 
and finally, with a courteous smile upon his counte- 
nance, thus began : — 



THIED EPISODE. 



TALE OF TELEPHRON THE STUDENT. 

Before I had finished my studies, and while I was yet 
a pupil, I went to Miletus to attend the Olympic 
games. Desirous of becoming well acquainted with the 
celebrated province of Thessaly, I had visited tne 
greater portion of the principal places — ^when, under 
evil auspices, I arrived one day at Larissa. By thai 
time I had nearly got rid of all the money I brougnt 
with me for my journey, and was reduced to extraor- 
dinary shifts in order to economise the little that 
remained. So circumstanced, I was loitering about tne 
town looking about me, when, coming by chance into 
the Forum, I saw, in the middle of the open space, a 
tall old man standing on the top of a large block of 
stone, and issuing a proclamation to the people in a 

d2 



52 THIED EPISODE. Book II. 

loud clear voice. " Any person," exclaimed he, " will- 
ing to undertake to guard a corpse, shall receive 
a good reward." On hearing these words, addressing 
myself to one of the passers by — '' What is the mean- 
ing of the proclamation," said I; "do the dead men 
run away in this country ?" 

" Hold thy tongue," replied he. " Surely, as well as 
a foreigner, thou art a raw simpleton into the bargain, 
not to know that all over Thessaly, in the middle of 
which province thou art, the witches tear off pieces 
from the faces of the dead bodies with their teeth, to 
use, as the principal ingredients in their magic spells." 

" I pray thee, tell me," replied I, "of what kind 
are the duties attached to this fimebral guardianship ? " 

" Duties ! " quoth the crier ; " why, keep thyself 
wide awake all night, with thine eyes fixed steadily 
upon the corpse, neither winking nor blinking, nor 
looking to the right nor looking to the left, either to one 
side or the other, be it never so little ; for the witches, 
infamous wretches as they are I can slip out of their 
skins in an instant and change themselves into the form 
of any animal they have a mind ; and then they crawl 
along so slily, that the eyes of justice, nay, the eyes of 
the sun himself are not keen enough to perceive them. 
At all events, their wicked devices are infinite in num- 
ber and variety ; and whether it be in the shape of a 
bird, or a dog, or a mouse, or even of a common house- 
fly, that they exercise their dire incantations, if thou 
art not vigilant in the extreme they will deceive thee 



Book II. THIRD EPISODE. 53 

one way or other, and overwhelm thee with sleep. 
Nevertheless, as regards the reward, 'twill be from four 
to six aurei : nor, although 'tis a perilous service, wilt 
thou receive more. Nay, hold ! I had almost for- 
gotten to give thee a necessary caution. Clearly 
understand, that if the corpse be not restored to the 
relatives in the morning entire, the deficient pieces 
of flesh torn oif by the teeth of the witches must be 
replaced from the face of the sleepy guardian. Thou, 
accordingly, in such case, wilt be compelled to suffer 
mutilation." 

Thus spoke the crier ; upon which I summoned up all 
my courage and said to him, " Cease thy proclamation 
— behold a guardian ready — name the precise reward!" 

"A thousand nunrnii," answered he, "ready money, 
shall be paid thee : but beware, young man, and exert 
thy utmost diligence ; for the corpse thou wilt have to 
protect from these execrable Harpies was, when alive, 
the son of a principal inhabitant of the city." 

" Nonsense 1" replied I; " such matters are but mere 
trifles. He whom thou seest before thee hath nerves 
of iron, and, like Argus, eyes in all parts of his body, 
that care not for sleep, and have the keen sight of the 
Argonaut Lynceus." 

I had no sooner uttered the above words than, with- 
out more ado, the crier beckoned me out of the forum, 
and conducted me to a certain house, of which the 
principal entrance was shut up. He, however, intro- 
duced me through a small back door into an inner 



54 THIRD EPISODE. Book II. 

chamber, where, tlie windows being closed, lie pointed 
to a lady dressed in black, who was weeping and lament- 
ing. Then, going close to the lady, he said, " Here is a 
person who hath engaged to take proper and faithful 
charge of thy late husband." 

'' I pray thee," replied the lady, addressing herself 
to me, while she fluno; aside the hair that huncp stream- 
ing over her face, and disclosed a countenance beautiful 
in the midst of grief; "see thou doest thy duty vigi- 
lantly." 

''Fear not on my account," replied I; "rather 
prepare a chaplet for the brows of thy victorious 
guardian." 

The latter speech of mine seemed to please her, for 
she rose up quickly, and bade me follow her into another 
chamber, where the dead body was lying covered with 
a snow-white linen cloth. Then were seven witnesses 
introduced into the latter chamber, in whose presence 
the lady, having lifted the cloth from the dead body, 
and shed her customary tears at the sight of it, care- 
fully enumerated all its members one by one, touching 
each with her hand separately. Meanwhile there stood 
at her side a person making notes on his tablets and 
writing all down, as she exclaimed, " Behold his nose 
entire, his eyes safe, liis ears sound, liis lips untouched, 
his chin perfect, etc. etc. etc. Do ye therefore, worthy 
Romans, bear testimony to this matter."* 

'-^ The formula of the Roman law : — " Vos in hanc rem, honi 
Quirites, testimonium perhibetote." 



Book II. THIRD EPISODE. 55 

So soon as the latter words were pronounced in due 
form, all the parties signed and sealed the tablets, and 
the lady departed. 

Just as she was leaving the room, " Lady," said I, 
" I pray thee give orders that there be delivered to me 
the things I have need of." 

**■ What things hast thou need of?" said she. 

" A good large lamp," replied I; " oil enough to last 
till daylight, a jug of Avine, cups, hot water, and a plate 
of good victuals from thy supper table." 

'' Begone, foolish man," replied she, shaking he'r 
head : " think st thou to find suppers and wine in a 
house of mourning, where not a puff of smoke hath 
been seen these many days ? Dost thou come hither 
for the sake of eating and drinking? Betake thee 
rather, in the place where thou art, to tears and lament- 
ations, and assume a manner of behaviour more suit- 
able to the occasion. Give him," said she, addressing 
herself to a maid servant, " give him the lamp and oil 
directly, Myrrhina." 

So saying she left the room, and the door was shut 
immediately. 

Being thus left alone to comfort the corpse, I rubbed 
my eyes, and, in order to keep up my spirits, and for- 
tify myself in the best manner I could against the 
attacks of sleep, I began to sing songs. Meanwhile 
twilight came, and night, and dark night, and night 
still darker, and the dead of night, and at last every 
soul in the house was overwhelmed in sleep, amid 



56 THIRD EPISODE. Book II. 

silence the most profound. At this time my fears, 
having been for some wliile increasing to an awful 
height, all of a sudden a weasel came creeping into 
the apartment, and stopped close opposite to me. The 
animal looked so keenly at me, and with a degree of 
confidence so unusual in such a little creature, that my 
mind became more agitated and disturbed than ever ; 
though presently I said to it, '' Away with thee, nasty 
little beast, that art hardly bigger than a mouse, be ofi 
with thee to the mice ; away, while yet 'tis well with 
thee; begone, I say." 

At these words the animal turned tail immediately, 
and ran out of the chamber ; but at the same instant I 
lost all manner of recollection, and fell into so profound 
a sleep that as I and the corpse lay side by side, not 
even the oracle of the god of Delphos could have deter- 
mined, on looking at both of us, which of the two were 
the most dead. In short I was so utterly senseless that 
I required a guardian for myself, and far from being 
able to take any care of the corpse, I might as well 
have not been there at all. * * * * 

The blast of the crested cohort had just sounded 
the reveiUe, and awakened me all of a sudden, when in- 
stantly springing upon my feet I went, in a dreadful 
state of alarm, to look at the dead body. Uncovering 
the face, and carefully holding the light to it, I exa- 
mined every feature separately; but I had scarcely 
time to satisfy myself that all was right and in good 
preservation, when the mournful widow burst into 



Book II. THIRD EPISODE. 57 

the room, accompanied by her seven witnesses. Throw- 
ing herself forthwith upon the dead body, after weeping, 
and, in a state of great agitation, kissing it long and 
very affectionately, she rose up and began to examine 
and take an account of all its members by the light of 
the lamp. Then, so soon as she found every tiling in 
its proper place and as it should be, she turned round, 
and iaquiruig for her house steward, or Philodespotos, 
bade him immediately pay the good guardian, as she 
called me, his reward. 

The money was accordingly given me without delay, 
while at the same time said she, ''Young man, not 
only do I thank thee most sincerely, but, by Hercules, 
in consideration of the dihgent manner in which thou 
hast performed thy duty, I will enrol thee among the 
list of my household." 

Overjoyed at the unexpected hope of emolument, 
and astonished at the sight of the gold, I replied, 
as I tossed the shining pieces up and down, venti- 
lating them as it were in my hand, ' ' Lady, depend 
upon me as one of thy devoted servants, whose ser- 
vices you may confidently command in future on a 
like occasion." 

The above words were scarcely out of my mouth 
when the servants, one and all, alarmed at the ominous 
nature of the expression, showered upon me the most 
bitter imprecations, and, snatching up every offensive 
implement they could lay hold of, attacked me in a 
body. One struck me in the face with his fist, another 

D 3 



58 THIED EPISODE. Book II. 

nudged me with his elbow, a third punched my ribs, a 
fourth kicked me, a fifth pulled out my hair by the 
roots, and a sixth tore my clothes ; m short I was not 
only stripped of my garments, but, ill-used and lace- 
rated, as Adonis by the boar, or Orpheus by the 
Bacchantes, I was finally thrust out of doors, amid gene- 
ral clamour and hootings, into the street. 

I had wandered a little way from the spot when, — as 
calling to my recollection the inauspicious, imprudent 
speech I had made, 1 was deriving some comfort, though 
the reflection came too late, by thinking that the blows 
and stripes I had received were not more or heavier 
than I deserved, — lo ! and behold ! the funeral proces- 
sion of the dead body I had guarded, accompanied 
by the mourners, weeping and bewailing, and per- 
forming the last solemnities, with all the pomp of a 
public funeral given, according to the custom of the 
country, to a first-rate citizen, passed through the forum. 

At this moment an old man, absorbed in grief 
and weeping abundantly, approached the bier, and 
tearing his venerable white hair with both hands, 
" Komans !" exclaimed he, in a voice strained to the 
highest pitch, though interrupted with frequent sobs, 
'' I implore you, for the sake of your religious faith 
and public morals, to espouse the cause of the relatives of 
a murdered citizen, and wreak your summary vengeance 
on yon wicked woman, perpetratress of the desperate 
crime. 'Tis she and she alone who, in order to obtain 
an inheritance and marry her paramour, hath extin- 



i 



Book II. THIKD EPISODE. 59 

guished the life of the unhappy youth her husband, 
son of my sister, by poison." 

The tears of the old man, and his lamentations deli- 
vered in broken, interrupted sentences, made a violent 
impression on the people; and his manner was altoge- 
ther so plausible that the lower classes, giving full 
credence to his afiirmation, became so violently irri- 
tated, that some proposed to set fire to the widow's 
house, and others, without more ado, were going to 
stone her. ISTay, they actually encouraged the little boys 
to bring stones to pelt at her; wliile she, pretending 
to shed tears, and assuming as devout an air as possible, 
peremptorily denied the heinous deed, and called the 
gods to bear witness to her innocence. 

Upon which said the old man, " liCt, then. Divine 
Providence decide the truth, in answer to her denial. 
Behold one who lives among us, a celebrated prophet, 
Zaclas, the Egyptian. Already for a large reward 
hath he pledged to me his faith to recall the breath 
of the departed from the regions of death in the 
shades below, and reanimate his body for a few brief 
moments." 

Thus saying, he brought forward before the people 
a certain young man, clad in linen garments, with his 
head close shaven and his feet bound with sandals made 
of palm leaves. Then said the old man, after having 
for some time kissed the hands and embraced the knees 
of the other, " Oh Priest ! I implore thee, by the stars 
of the firmament, by the gods of the infernal regions, 



6lO third episode. Book II. 

by tlie elements of nature, by tlie silence of night, by 
tlie sacred island of tKe Nile and the overflowings of 
that river, by the mysteries of Memphis, and by the 
Sistrum of the island of Pharos, render unto these eyes, 
otherwise closed mito eternity, a brief moment of enjoy- 
ment, and pour into them a single slender ray of the 
light of the sun. The decrees of fate we dispute not, 
the right of the earth we deny not, but a momentary 
span of life for the consolation of vengeance we entreat 
and implore." 

The prophet, having thus propitiated the gods, 
touched the mouth, and in like manner the breast of 
the corpse, three times with a certaia herb, and 
turning towards the glorious sun then rising in the 
East, stood wrapt hi silent prayer. 

During the performance of this solemn scene, while 
the minds of the spectators were directed with intense 
interest to the forthcoming miracle, having already 
made my way through the crowd, I had mounted on a 
laro-e high stone, and was standino^ close to the bier on 
the other side, steadily looking at the corpse, when, 
after the breast had become inflated by degrees, I saw 
the body grow gradually full of breath, till pulsation 
having returned to the heart, it raised its head and 
shoulders, and spoke from the bier as follows : — 

*'^Tell me, oh tell me, why dost thou recall me to 
life ? After drinkmg the waters of Lethe, after float- 
ing on the Stygian lake, -why dost thou summon me 
to resume the luties of a momentary existence? 



Book II. THIRD EPISODE. 61 

Cease, oh cease; leave me to my repose, I beseech 
thee." 

When the above words had been heard to proceed 
from the newly-animated body, the Prophet became 
aroused to a state of higher inspiration, and exclaimed — 

" Nay, but thou shalt illuminate the mysteries of a 
grievous crime, and relate all the circumstances of thy 
death to the people. Knowest thou not that I have the 
power by my prayers to invoke the Furies and rack thy 
collapsed limbs with torture ?" 

The instant the Prophet had pronounced these last 
words, the corpse on the bier heaved a deep groan, and 
said to the people, '* A noxious draught was given me 
treacherously by my newly-married wife. Compelled 
to yield my warm bed to her paramour, I died by 
poison." 

The egregious wife, on hearing the above words, 
contradicted the accusation with extraordinary presence 
of mind and audacity, and fell to arguing and wrangling 
with her resuscitated husband in an impudent, sacrile- 
gious tone. Meanwhile the people that listened to the 
conversation between them became "violently excited, 
owing to their espousing two different sides of opinion ; 
for one party were for immediately burying alive the 
iniquitous woman in the same grave with the dead 
body, while the other, declaring that she was innocent, 
maintained that the corpse had told a lie. 

The corpse itself, howeverj at this moment, when the 
clamour was at its height, decided the matter in dispute ; 



Q2 THIRD EPISODE. Book II. 

for, uttering another deep groan, it exclaimed, " Then 
will I produce incontrovertible testimony, and prove 
the truth by things not known to mortal man. Be- 
hold," it continued, at the same time pointing its finger 
towards me, " Behold yon sagacious guardian of my 
body, whom those hags the witches, after long striving 
to elude his vigilance, under various forms, without 
success, covered at last with a cloud of drowsiness, 
and buried in profound repose. Then did they, han- 
kering after mortal spoils, call me by my name unceas- 
ingly, until my limbs, and cold stiffened joints strove 
with a feeble impulse to obey the magic spell. But 
the man, my guardian, whose name by chance is 
my name, alive in reality though dead asleep, arose 
instinctively at the sound of the mutual appellative, 
and walking in a state of senselessness, like an inanimate 
unconscious shadow, suffered instead of myself the 
intended mutilation. For though the door of the 
chamber was bolted, the witches entered through an 
unknown cranny, and first depriving him of his nose 
and ears, they replaced the truncated members by a 
waxen imitation, of so natural an appearance that 
human eyes are incapable of distinguishing it from 
the original. Behold yonder the wretch himself — he 
wlio hath received a reward for his vigilance at the 
cost of his nose and ears." 

No sooner did I hear the above announcement than 
I became exceedingly terrified, and, immediately 
putting my evil fortune to the test, my nose came off 



Book II. THIRD EPISODE. 63 

in my hand, and my ears slipped through my fingers on 
the ground. Meanwhile as the spectators burst forth 
in loud shouts of laughter, nodded their heads and 
pointed their fingers at me, I stealthily made my escape, 
streaming with cold perspiration, between the feet of 
the multitude. Thus rendered a ridiculous as well as 
a mutilated object, I never from that day returned to 
my native country, but concealing the want of ears 
by my hair, and glueing on a decent piece of linen cloth 
as a substitute for my nose, I have wandered about 
ever since from place to place as now you see me. 

END OF THIRD EPISODE. 



The guests being highly elated with wine when 
Telephron finished his story, the conclusion was hailed 
by renewed bursts of laughter, and they all proposed to 
drink his health, while Byrrhana, addressing herself 
to me — 

"To-morrow," said she, "is a solemn festival here 
in Hypata, one upon which we Hypatians of all people 
in the world exclusively have, from the earliest founda- 
tions of the city, propitiated the merry God of Laugh- 
ter with jovial ceremonies. Your presence among us 
will add to our hilarity ; would that you could tax 



64 LUCIUS KILLS THREE MEN Book II. 

your native wit in our behalf, and by some quaint in- 
vention enricli our sacrifice to the great deity." 

"By Hercules!" said I, "I will do my best endea- 
vour to comply with your desh^e; right glad would 
I be to produce a garment of smiles worthy to be laid 
on his Grodship's shoulders." 

Just as I had made the above reply my servants ar- 
rived to admonish me of the lateness of the hour ; 
upon which I got up immediately, bade a hasty adieu 
to Byrrhaena, and in a state, like the rest of the party, 
of crapulous repletion, set forth to stagger home- 
ward with unsteady steps. So soon as we had got out 
of the house, and were turning the corner, trying 
hard to find our way along the first wide street, a sud- 
den puff of wind extinguished our lamp, so that, from 
the unexpected change from light to darkness, we 
could hardly get on at all, and it was as much as ever 
we could do to proceed, knocking our toes against the 
stones all the way we went. We had contrived, how- 
ever, to reach the last street, and arrive close to 
Milo's house, when, lo and behold, we saw three lusty 
enormous fellows kicking at the door with their utmost 
strength ; and, far from being frightened at our pre- 
sence, the nearer we came the more violently did they 
bounce against it. All of us naturally concluded they 
were most desperate robbers ; so, snatching from my 
bosom, as quickly as I possibly could, my dagger which 
I had previously drawn on purpose and covered with 
my cloak, I threw myself in the midst of them, and 



m 



Book II. WHOM HE TAKES FOR EOBBERS. 65 

burying the point of my weapon deep in their bodies, I 
saw them fall pierced with many grievous wounds^ and 
all three, one after another, breathe their last at my feet. 
Fotis, awakened at the terribly noisy battle, came and 
opened the door, wliile I, panting for breath and bathed 
in perspiration, immediately crawled to bed, tired as if 
I had slain the giant Geryon, and fell fast asleep. 



QQ LUCIUS ARRESTED Book III. 



BOOK III. 

Lucius arrested for the Murder of three Citizens — Tried for 
his Life — Proceedings of the Trial — Unexpected termi- 
nation of the Trial — Lucius finds himself hoaxed — Fes- 
tival of the God of Laughter — Fotis the innocent cause of 
Lucius's Misfortune — Her interview with Lucius — Her 
Confession — Promises Lucius to give him an opportimity of 
seeing her mistress Pamphile transform herself into a Bird 
or other animal — Lucius witnesses the transformation of 
Pamphile into an Owl — Lucius, desirous of following Pam- 
phile's example, through the mistake of Fotis is changed 
into a Donkey — Ingratitude of Lucius's White Horse — 
Lucius, in the form of a Donkey, thrashed by his late servant 
— Milo's House attacked hj Eobbers — Lucius seized by the 
Robbers, loaded with plunder, and driven away. 

Aurora had already mounted her chariot in the hea- 
vens, and upKfting her rosy arm above the purple 
trappings of her hor^SJl Night, at the coming of a new- 
day, had renounced her dominion over my senses, 
when, heated at the vivid recollection of the last night's 
adventure, I started from sound repose. Overwhelmed 
with grief, I sat up in my bed upon my haunches, 
my legs bent under me, the joints of my fingers inter- 
laced alternately, the palms of my hands resting on 
my knees, and I wept abundantly. My imagination 



I 



t 

Book III. FOR THE MURDER OF THREE CITIZENS. 67 

pictured to me the Forum, a trial, sentence of condem- 
nation, and the hangman. 

" For," said I to myself, " defiled as I am with the 
crime of a triple homicide ^ and besmeared with the 
blood of three citizens, there lives not a judge, mild 
and benevolent though he be, who can pronounce me 
innocent. Is this the glorious result of my journey 
predicted by Diophanes the Chaldsean ?" 

While such reflections were passing in my mind and 
I was deploring my evil fortune, I heard a great noise 
of people shouting in the street, and then a violent 
shaking at the outer door, which was burst open forth- 
with, and the magistrates with their subordinate func- 
tionaries, followed simultaneously by a miscellaneous 
crowd of people, rushed into the house and filled all 
the apartments to overflowing. Without more ado, 
though I made not the least resistance, two lictors, by 
order of the magistrates, seized hold of me, and dragged 
me away with them through the streets accompanied by 
a multitude of such extraordinary density that one 
would have thought the whole population of the city 
had collected in a continuous stHB. Notwithstanding 
that I walked mournfully along, with my face bowed 
down towards the ground, aye, down to the shades 
below, I chanced to cast a glance on one side and per- 
ceived what surprised me very much — that every single 
person among the many thousands of people who sur- 
rounded us was laughing ready to split his sides. 
Nevertheless I was thus conducted through all the prin- 



68 LUCIUS TRIED FOE HIS LIFE. Book III. 

cipal streets, turning corner after corner, like the 
victim of a lustral sacrifice led in a circuitous proces- 
sion to expiate some dire portent, till I was brought at 
last to the Forum and made to stand directly opposite 
the judgment seat. There the magistrates were already 
seated in their places upon an elevated platform, and 
the public crier was proclaiming silence, when, owing 
to the perilous pressure among the spectators, as well 
as on account of the public interest excited by the trial, 
there arose a sudden unanimous cry among the people 
to adjourn the proceedings to the theatre. The multi- 
tude accordingly removed without delay to the theatre ^ 
whither they ran with such extraordinary celerity that 
before we arrived all the entrances were blocked up, 
every seat in the cavea was occupied, and all parts 
of the building were stuffed up to the very roof, as 
thick as they could cram with people. Some clung to the 
columns, others hung upon the statues, several with 
their fore bodies thrust forward over beams and through 
the windows were only half visible, and very many, 
without the least regard to safety, but stimulated by 
the desire to witnes^^that was to be seen, had placed 
themselves in the most perilous situations. 

Meanwhile, having been led by the ministers of justice 
through the proscenium, and stationed in the middle of 
the orchestra, so soon as I arrived there, the crier, who 
had a voice like a bull, summoned my accuser to stand 
forth. At this proclamation an elderly man immedi- 
ately made his appearance, and a quantity of water, 



Book III. PROCEEDINGS AT THE TRIAL. €9 

regulated to tlie time allowed for speaking, having been 
poured into a small vessel perforated at the bottom like 
a cullender, with very small holes, through which it 
escaped drop by drop, he thus addressed the people : — 

" Most worthy Eomans," said he, " the case I have 
to lay before you is one of no trifling magnitude, but 
rather a question that especially regards the peace of 
the city, and is likely to aflbrd a serious example 
to posterity in days to come. Wherefore it becomes 
the more necessary for each and every one of you 
to look to the upholding of the public dignity, and 
take good care that yon nefarious homicide who has 
cruelly murdered so many of your citizens be not per- 
mitted to exercise his butcher's trade among you with 
impunity. Do not imagine, I beg of you, that I am 
actuated by any privy grudge, or am addressing you 
under the excitement of animosity or personal hatred, 
but listen while. I place the matter in its proper light, 
and faithfully relate to you the circumstances that took 
place last night. As for myself, I am the prefect of the 
night-guard, whose vigilance and assiduity no one, I 
believe, has hitherto ventured to^^fceach. 

" Last night, going my rounds as usual and proceed- 
ing from door to door, I had nearly gone the circuit of 
the city, examining every thing in my way with the most 
scrupulous attention, when, nearly at the third watch, 
I perceived that barbarously cruel young man laying 
about him with his drawn dagger. Slaughtering on 
the right and on the left, three victims of his ferocity. 



70 PROCEEDINGS AT THE TEIAL. Boox III. 

tlieir bodies still breathing and palpitating, were 
weltering in tlieir blood at his feet. Deservedly 
conscience-stricken at the heinous act he had com- 
mitted, he immediately ran away, and escaping in 
the darkness of the night lay concealed in an adjacent 
house till the morning, when, by the providence of the 
Gods, who permit no such great crimes to pass unpu- 
nished, I, who laid wait at the door on purpose, took 
care to prevent him from starting on his clandestine 
enterprises any more, and now produce him before this 
court to receive a criminal sentence. You have con- 
sequently before you not only a prisoner contaminated 
by many murders, but a prisoner taken in the fact, 
and a foreigner. Press vigorously therefore to convict 
the subject of another country of a crime which, 
if committed by one of your own citizens, you would 
visit with capital punishment." 

Wlien my inveterate accuser had concluded the 
above severe speech, the moment he was silent the crier 
addressed himself to me, and asked if I had anything to 
urge in my defence — for now, he said, was the time to 
begin, if I had anj^kg to say. For my own part, at 
that moment I could^o nothing but weep ; not, by Her- 
cules, so much on account of the bitterness of the accu- 
sation against me, as owing to the stings of my own 
wretched conscience. Nevertheless, the instant I was 
put upon my defence, an audacity, as if I were divinely 
inspired, suddenly arose within me, and I addressed the 
court as follows : — 



Book III. PROCEEDINGS AT THE TEIAL. 71 

" I cannot be ignorant," said I, " of the difficulty of 
that individual's position, who, like myself, pleads in 
his defence against an accusation of homicide, with the 
dead bodies of three murdered citizens lying exposed 
before him; or how arduous is the task, let him be 
never so truthful and explicit, to persuade so vast a 
multitude as are here assembled of his innocence. 
But if there be a sentiment of humanity that prevails 
among you, and I am allowed a patient public hearing 
for a little while, I shall have no difficulty in showing 
that it is not because I stand before you under peril of 
my life that I deserve to forfeit my life ; but that a 
fortuitous accident and a reasonable feeling of indigna- 
tion have been the means of my being subjected inno- 
cently to the reproach of the crime of which I am here 
arraigned. Last night as, at a later hour than usual, I 
was returning home from supper in a state approaching 
to intoxication (which state being itself a crime I 
will not pretend to deny), I had arrived close to the 
house where I reside — the house of your worthy citizen 
Milo — when I saw some desperate robbers in the act of 
forcing an entrance, and striving v^ith might and main 
to wrest the door off its hinges. Already had they 
wrenched off the bolts and fastenings, and were medi- 
tating the immediate destruction of the inhabitants 
within, while one especially, the most able-bodied and 
ready-handed of them all, was urging and encouraging 
his companions. ' Come along,' said he, ' my boys — 
be brisk, my manly fellows ; and all of you stoutly 



72 PROCEEDINGS AT THE TRIAL. Book III, 

attack them in their beds. Banish hesitation and 
sluggishness from your bosoms; let homicide, drawn 
sword in hand, stalk from end to end through the 
dwelling ; let us slay the sleepers outright, and beat to 
the ground all who show resistance; for by leaving 
not a soul safe in the house we shall return home safe 
ourselves.' 

*' I acknowledge, on hearing these words, being 
armed with a dagger, which I am in the h^bit of carry- 
ing with me as a defence against similar atrocities, 
being in extreme fear on my own account, and being 
anxious to defend the family of my host and hostess, 
that I thought it the duty of a good citizen to make 
use of my weapon, were it only to endeavour to terrify 
and put to flight such outrageous robbers. But, 
Eomans, the barbarous, blood-thirsty villains declined 
to run ! On the contrary, they offered bold resistance ; 
and when they saw me opposed to them in arms, drew 
up in regular order. Their leader, standard-bearer as 
it were, made at me with all his strength, caught me 
by the hair with both hands, bent my body backwards, 
and would have smashed my skull with a stone, which 
he called to his companions to give him, had I not the 
good fortune to make a sure thrust at him and" over- 
throw him. Presently, by a well-aimed blow at 
another, piercing through his shoulder blade, I killed 
him clinging to my legs and biting my feet; and 
finally, as the third was all abroad and rusliing wildly 
upon me, I ran him through the chest. And now, 



Book III. PR0CEEl5iNGS AT THE TRIAL. 73 

having vindicated the cause of peace, having protected 
the house of my host, and having laboured for the 
welfare of the public, I should have imagined myseU 
deserving of public approbation rather than liable to 
punishment. I have never before been accused of any 
offence ; I have always been esteemed and well regarded 
in my own coimtry ; and have ever cherished an un- 
blemished character as the first of earthly blessings. 
Neither am I able to comprehend why, because I 
was excited by a justifiable feehng of vengeance against 
three terrible villains, I am thus summoned to this 
place at all to clear myself of the accusation. For 
nobody can prove I had a motive to commit the crime 
I stand charged with, either through the desire of 
booty or from animosity to the deceased robbers, none 
of whose faces did I ever see till the encounter in 
question." 

Having brought my defence thus far towards the cori- 
clusion, then stretching out my hands in a supplicating 
attitude, while tears burst forth afresh, I most pathe- 
tically invoked the commiseration of the public. 
Appealing personally to one after another, I besought 
them by their love to their children, and their regard 
to charity, till thinking their feelings touched on the 
score of humanity, and their hearts sufficiently wrought 
to pity, I was finally calling to witness the eye of jus- 
tice, the sun, &c., and recommending my case to the 
providence of the gods, when elevating my eyes to- 
wards the spectators in the Cavea, I beheld, as if the 



74 PEOCEEDINGS AT T^E TEIAL. Book III. 

floodgates of risibility were let loose among them all, 
a general laughing and tittering; and Milo, my worthy 
host and acquaintance, laughing louder than anybody. 
" Alas ! for the consciences and probity of man- 
kind !" thought I in silence to myself; " the host in 
whose defence thou hast hazarded thy life and be- 
come an homicide, not only afiords thee no comfort 
under thy misfortune, but sits there heartlessly laughing 
at thee !" 

I had, however, little time for continuing these 
reflections before the proceedings of the court were 
interrupted by the appearance of two women, who 
came forward both together; one, dressed in black, 
with a child at her bosom, and the other, who fol- 
lowed the first, very old, and covered with exceedingly 
ragged apparel. These women, crying and lamenting 
most bitterly, passed through the middle of the theatre 
proceeded with the most mournful air and gestures to 
the bier on which the bodies of the slain robbers lay, 
covered by a cloth, and there, standing over the bier, 
they shook olive branches they carried in their hands 
over the corpses. After making a dismal noise and 
howling, at last the younger woman addressed the court 
as follows : — 

'' Have pity," said she, " have pity, in the name of 
the public, in the name of the common law, and in 
the name of humanity, on the relict of a youth who has 
been cruelly murdered, and render her, I beseech 
you, the consolation of vengeance in her widowhood 



Book III. PKOCEEDINGS AT THE TRIAL. 75 

as an atonement for tlie unmerited calamity. Protect 
too the fortunes of a cMld left destitute in his infancy, 
and by the blood of the assassin who has infringed your 
laws vindicate the public authority." 

So soon as the woman had pronounced these words, 
the senior magistrate got up and addressed the people as 
follows : — " For the crime that the prisoner has com- 
mitted, which not even he himself is able to deny, a heavy 
punishment must be inflicted ; but apart from the ques- 
tion of his individual guilt, there remains with us the 
important consideration how to discover the accomplices 
of the atrocious deed. For without accomplices it is in- 
credible one solitary person could have vanquished and 
deprived of life three so robust men as the deceased. 
Now it will be indispensable to have recourse to 
the torture to extract the truth; and as the accom- 
plices of the prisoner have all run away and made 
their escape, the thing comes simply to this, — that the 
question be administered to himself. Then will he be 
compelled to say who they are, and we shall have 
the means of thoroughly putting an end to this for- 
midable banditti." 

When the magistrate had concluded his harangue, 
the instruments of torture used according to the 
Greek custom, namely, the wheel, heated irons, va- 
rious sorts of scourges, &c., were immediately brought 
into court. 

At this moment, while I was terrified and horror- 
struck at these formidable appearances, and my fears 

E 2 



76 PKOCEEDINGS AT THE TKIAL. Book III. 

were doubled at the sad idea of leaving the world with 
a mutilated body, the elder of the two women, who 
all the time had been disturbing the proceedings of the 
court with her loud bewailings, thus addressed the spec« 
tators : — ''Most worthy citizens," said she, "I pray 
you permit the dead bodies of my wretched sons to be 
uncovered, in order that the contemplation of their 
youth and beauty may instigate a just feeling of indig- 
nation, and stir up the people's rage in due proportion 
to the crime, before you nail to the cross that villain, 
their murderer." 

The spectators assented to the proposal of the old 
woman by acclamation, and the magistrate accordingly 
ordered the dead bodies that lay on the bier to be unco- 
vered, and the coverings to be removed by myself with 
my own hands. In obedience to the command the 
lictors, without more ado, compelled me, as quickly 
as they were able, to comply. Unwilling to revive, as 
it were, my crime of the day before by a fresh dis- 
play, 1 resisted and struggled a good deal ; till at last 
they dragged from my side by force the hand to be 
used to my own destruction. But when that hand, 
against my will, overcome by stern necessity, and 
yielded reluctantly, was extended over the corpses, and 
withdrew the pall that overlaid them — Gracious powers, 
what a catastrophe! What a wonderful sight did I 
behold ! What a monstrosity ! How miraculous and 
sudden the change of my fortunes ! A moment before 
my name was enrolled among the members of Pluto's 



Book III. UNEXPECTED TERMINATION. 77 

family, and my body the private property of Proserpine. 
Now, in a single instant, tlie face of aiFairs was totally 
reversed, and I stood staring in mute astonishment ! 

Words are incapable of describing the effect of the 
picture that appeared before my eyes 1 In short, the 
corpses of the murdered men were nothing more 
than three wine. skins, pierced while in a state of infla- 
tion with various holes, that so far as I could call to my 
recollection, exactly corresponded, aperture for aperture, 
with the gaping wounds I remembered to have inflicted 
on the robbers, in my battle of the night before. At this 
extraordinary spectacle the inclination to merriment 
among the people, which had been for some time as it 
were smouldering, and very many had been able to 
restrain successfully, now blazed forth in full confla- 
gration. The whole assemblage continued to laugh 
without ceasing until they were thoroughly satiated. 
Some laughed till their stomachs ached, others clapped 
their hands on their sides to relieve the tension, 
and all now began to move out of the theatre replete 
with mirth and happiness — several first coming up to 
congratulate me, and every one as he departed casting 
a look behind at myself. For my own part, from 
the moment I lifled up the pall I had stood riveted to 
the spot, cold and motionless as a stone. Nay, I had 
hardly more life in me than one of the statues or a 
column of the theatre. At last, before I had, as it were, 
emerged from the shades below, a tap of the hand from 
my host Milo suddenly brought me to my recollection. 



78 FESTIVAL OF THE GOD OF LAUGHTEE. Book III. 

Milo then kindly drew me towards him with gentle force, 
and, — while, the tears glistening in my eyes, I wept and 
sobbed incessantly, — led me, reluctant as I was to move, 
through retired streets and by-ways to his own house. 

When we arrived there, he did all he could to 
assuage my grief and trepidation ; but the indignation 
I felt at the injury I had received was beyond his 
power to relieve. Such was the profound depth it lay 
buried in my bosom, that neither were the magistrates 
themselves more successful. They with their attend- 
ants and all the insignia of office came to our house on 
purpose to console me. 

" My Lord Lucius," said they, endeavouring to 
tranquillize my mind by their conversation, " we are 
not ignorant of the honourable family to which you 
belong, nor of the position you hold in society. Nay, 
the names of your noble celebrated ancestors are 
known throughout the whole province. Comfort thy- 
self then, we pray thee, and cast away the sorrow and 
grief of heart that afflict thee. 'Tis not for the sake 
of contumely that the present trick, which hath caused 
thee such infinite pain, has been played upon thee ; but 
'tis a pleasant invention, an innocent agreeable prank, 
such as each revolving year we contrive on the day when 
we celebrate our festival in order to propitiate and en- 
liven a jocund deity, the great God of Laughter. May 
the blithsome divinity acknowledge you as his bene- 
factor, and accompany you whithersoever you go ; 
may he be continually propitious ; may he relieve 



Book III. LUCIUS'S REPLY. 79 

your bosom of present misery ; may lie protect your 
mind from future anguish; may he free your heart 
from the dominion of melancholy, and for ever may he 
clothe your serene brow with joyous smiles. For the 
amusement you have afforded us, the citizens have 
already pronounced a decree to your immortal honour : 
to you, as the patron of Hypata, a brazen statue will be 
erected." 

To the above address of the magistrates I said a few 
words in reply, to the effect that " I duly appreciated 
the honours conferred upon me in so singular a man- 
ner by the very splendid city of Hypata, but that, with 
regard to the selection of objects for their statues and 
their pictures, I would venture to recommend the citi- 
zens to bestow the honour on some more worthy per- 
sonage, one who either were older than myself, or at 
least had rendered the state a better service than to set 
them all laughing as I had done." 

At all events in my answer I made choice of the 
most discreet terms that prudence could suggest, and 
when it was over and the magistrates were about to 
take their departure, feeling much relieved, I was en- 
abled, as I bade them adieu, to summon to my counte- 
nance a momentary courteous expression. 

No sooner were they gone, than a servant from 
Byrrhaena came running to the house with a message 
to remind me that the time was approaching of a ban- 
quet at her house, which I had promised the evening 
before to attend. 



80 RETURNS TO MILO'S HOUSE. Book III. 

Terrified at the announcement, and, after what had 
passed, horrorstrnck at the idea of going near Byr- 
rhsena's house, " Tell thy mistress," said I, " that I would 
willingly obey her commands and wait upon her, but 
it is not in my power to do so without committing a 
breach of hospitality towards my host. For Milo hath 
conjured me by the presiding deity of to-day to re- 
main with him to supper, and I have absolutely 
pledged myself to stay. Neither will he allow me to 
leave his company nor go abroad. I would therefore 
fain have thy mistress release me from my obligation 
until a future day." 

Milo all the time I was speaking to the servant kept 
a firm hold on me, and so soon as the other went away, 
he insisted on conducting me to the nearest baths, whi- 
ther, having ordered bathing implements to be sent 
after us, we went immediately. 

So much did my mind recoil at the idea of being the 
laugliing-stock of the public, that as we passed along the 
streets I kept out of sight as much as I could by walking 
all the way close to the side of my companion ; notwith- 
standing which the people so nodded and winked and 
pointed at me that I was absolutely driven out of my 
senses. How I got washed, how I was dried, or how I 
got home, such was the intense sense of shame I felt, for 
the life of me I cannot remember. But at all events, 
after I had bathed, and found my way back to Milo's 
house, and partaken of his frugal supper, which I hur- 
ried over in extreme haste, the repast was no sooner 



Book III. FOTIS'S INTERVIEW WITH LUCIUS. 81 

finished than I made the excuse of a violent 'headache 
caused by long continuous weeping, and craved an in- 
dulgence that was readily conceded to me — permission 
to retire to my chamber. 

When I foimd myself alone I immediately threw my- 
self on the bed in a fit of melancholy despondency, and 
was completely overwhelmed by a host of the most 
bitter reflections for some time, till, at the moment that 
my grief was at the utmost, the door was opened sud- 
denly, and Fotis, who had just performed her service 
with her mistress, and left her in bed, unexpectedly en- 
tered my apartment. Advancing towards me with a 
lowering brow, a countenance disfigured by the con- 
tortions of mental anguish, and in manner and appear- 
ance as different from her former talkative, joyous self 
as can possibly be imagined. — 

'* I freely confess," said she, in a hesitating, timid 
tone of voice, *' I have been the cause to thee of this 
day*s trouble; take therefore, I pray thee," (at the same 
time drawing fi:om her bosom a kind of leathern thong 
and offering it to me,) " this scourge, and have thy re- 
venge on a perfidious woman ; nay, even though thou 
inflict a heavier punishment than I deserve, take thy 
revenge, I say. But yet believe, I beseech thee, that 
'tis not of my own will that the calamity hath befallen 
thee ! Be the Gods more merciful than that through 
my fault or failing the very smallest pebble ever 
bruise thy foot! Eather would I suffer death than 
evil betide thee. Sad enough my lot if the act that 

E 3 



82 FOTIS'S CONFESSION. Book III. 

with a totally different intention I was ordered to per- 
form, liath brought thee harm." 

On hearing these words of Fotis an intense feeling 
of my usual curiosity immediately seized my mind; and 
with a burning desire to know the cause of all that 
had happened to me, 

" Away with it," said I; " let me tear in a thousand 
pieces the most audacious and wicked of thongs that 
ever was seen, rather than it inflict a smgle stripe 
on thy sweet person, or fall in palpable contact with 
thy white, downy, dove-like skin. But tell me, oh 
tell me, I beseech thee, in strict confidence, what 
deed hast thou done, or how hath the perversity of 
fortune converted thy doing to my detriment? I 
take that dear face of thine to witness that no mortal 
in existence — not even thou thyself — could persuade 
me to believe thee capable of thinking aught to harm 
me. Nor can innocent intentions, even through thfe 
uncertainty or perversity of chance, ever be rendered 
culpable." 

" I am sadly terrified," replied Fotis, who trembled 
fearfully, " I am terribly afraid," said she, in a low tone 
of voice, almost subdued to a whisper, " to unfold the 
mysteries of this house and reveal the secret perform- 
ances of my mistress, and yet I think too favourably of 
thee and thy acquirements to hesitate to trust thee. 
For besides the dignity of thy noble ancestry and thine 
own lofty mind, the various sacred mysteries into 
which thou hast already been initiated have neces- 



Book III. POWERS OF PAMPHILE. 83 

sarily taught thee to appreciate the holiness of secrecy 
and fideHtj. Preserve then, I beseech thee, most reli- 
giously locked up in the lowest depths of thy bosom 
the things I am about to relate to thee, and let thy 
constant impregnable silence repay the sincerity of my 
narrative. For my regard towards thee so compels 
me to unfold mysteries entrusted to no other mortal on 
earth, save myself, that thou shalt thoroughly know 
the state of our house and the miraculous secrets of 
my mistress. 

" First then I must tell thee that she who can control 
the elements, shake the stars in their spheres, raise 
the spirits of the dead, and enthral the divinities 
themselves, employs her magic spells on no occasions 
with more violent earnestness than on those which hap- 
pen not unfrequently whenever, as is the case at pre- 
sent, she chances to cast the eyes of affection on a good 
looking young man. The object of her choice with 
whom she is now enamoured most desperately is a 
young Boeotian, whose heart she has been for some 
days using her most potent manoeuvres to fascinate. 
'Twas but yesterday evening I heard her — nay, heard 
her with these very ears — threaten the sun himself 
to throw a cloud of mist about his disc, and involve 
the world in perpetual darkness, provided he declined 
to move with accelerated speed to the horizon, and 
produce night prematurely, in order to enable her 
the sooner to begin to exercise her magical incantations. 
For the youth, as she was coming from the baths, by 



84 POWERS OF PAMPHILE. Book III. 

chance was sitting in a barber's sliop^ where she hap- 
pened to catch sight of him. Accordingly, so soon 
as she reached the house, she commanded me to go 
instantly to the shop of the barber and procure clan- 
destinely the cuttings of the young man's hair, 
which, falling to the ground from the barber's scissors, 
lay scattered about the floor. In obedience to the 
orders of my mistress, I went thither directly, and was 
diligently, though slily as possible, picking up the 
hair by stealth when the barber observing me, * Ho, 
ho !' quoth he, ' dost thou come here again, thou 
wretch, to steal the hair of the choice young men, my 
customers ? Marry, if ever I catch thee again at these 
thy wicked pranks I'll have thee before the magis- 
trates.' Then, suiting the action to the word, and 
roughly seizing me by the arm — for I must tell thee 
that, like my mistress, I have a notorious character for 
the practice of witchcraft all over the city — he scolded 
me bitterly, and began to search all about me, and 
finally discovered and took away from me the hair I 
had picked up on the floor and concealed in my bosom. 
The misfortune grievously afflicted me; for I feared 
my mistress, whose temper is violent in the extreme 
under similar disappointment, and is always wont to 
beat me on a like occasion, would use me cruelly. 
Nay, I thought of running away from her outright, 
and surely would have done so, had not a momentary 
thought of thee come across my mind, when I abandoned 
the idea instantly. Distressed, however, at the loss 



Book III. POWERS OF PAMPHILE. 85 

beyond measure^ I was sadly and dismally bending my 
steps homeward empty-handed, when passing through 
a street in the way I saw a man clipping with a pair of 
shears some goat-skins sewn together for the purpose 
of wine-bags, which were inflated and hung upon 
a wall. Perceiving that the goat-hair already clipped 
and lying on the ground was flaxen-coloured, precisely 
resembling the hair of the young Boeotian, I imme- 
diately picked up a good handful to carry it home, 
and, concealing the truth from my mistress, gave 
it her instead of the hair that had been taken from 
me. 

" All this happened in the evening while you were 
at Byrrhsena's supper, when Pamphile, previous to thy 
return home, impatient for the approach of darkness, 
and aroused to a state of necromantic frenzy, commenced 
her deadly incantations. Then did she ascend to the 
upper part of the house, and enter a balcony com- 
manding a wide sweep of prospect on the horizon 
towards the east, open on both sides, and covered by 
a shingled roof — a locality particularly suited to the 
purpose of her secret mysteries, — and there she began 
her operations by putting in order the implements of 
art belonging to her deadly workshop. Collecting 
together divers sorts of aromatics, tablets engraved 
with unknown characters, najjs wrenched from ships 
wrecked on the ocean, limbs and 'remnants of buried 
and unburied corpses, noses, and fingers, pieces of flesh 
of crucified criminals sticking to the iron nails, blood- 



86 POWERS OF PAMPHILE. Book III. 

stained daggers of assassins, and skulls from which the 
teeth of wild beasts had ripped the scalp — all these 
things she arranged in proper order ; and then, after 
performing a sacrifice, and pronouncing an incantation 
over the palpitating entrails of the victim, she poured 
over them a Hbation of cow's milk, mountain honey, 
and wine diluted with spring- water. Finally, she took 
the goat-hair, mixed with it much perfume, plaited it 
in several different locks, tied aU the locks in a knot 
together, and tlirew them on the live coals of a chafing- 
dish to be consumed. And now behold, no sooner 
had the goat-hair fallen on the fire and begun to smoke 
with a shriU crackling sound, than, through the irre- 
sistible power of magic, the parent bodies, animated 
simultaneously by the potent spell, and coerced by 
the occult force of the divinities, received human 
breath, and thought, and heard, and walked accord- 
ingly. Walking, they proceeded whither the odour of 
the burning spoils attracted their footsteps, and they 
instead of the Boeotian youth endeavoured to force an 
entrance through the door of Milo's house. This 
was the moment when, coming to the spot in a state of 
intoxication, thy brain confused by wine, and thy sight 
deceived by the obscurity of a dark night, thou, like 
Ajax in his madness, didst draw thy dagger valiantly, 
and wound, and slay, and lay about thee ; and though 
truly thou didst not like Ajax destroy and mutilate 
whole flocks of sheep, yet didst thou perform a nobler 
act than he : for, letting out the wind, as thou hast. 



Book III. LUCIUS'S CURIOSITY. 87 

from three inflated goat-skins, thine enemies were 
all laid prostrate without shedding a drop of blood. 
Therefore art thou no longer a homicide, but a goati- 
cide." 

Thus reassured and exhilarated by the narrative of 
Fotis, and answering in my turn jestingly, said I, 
" Well then, since the empty goatskins that I killed 
were three in number, I may account this first proof -of 
my prowess one of the twelve labours of Hercules, 
whether the slaughter of the three-bodied giant Ge- 
ryon, or the three-headed dog Cerberus. Wherefbye 
I readily forgive thee the crime thou hast been guilty 
of, and entirely banish from my mind all the sorrow 
and anguish it has cost me, provided you comply with 
the request I now earnestly implore of you. Give me 
an opportunity — on the next occasion when thy 
mistress exercises her supernatural magic power, and 
changes herself into the form of any sort of animal 
— to witness the transformation; for I am most ar- 
dently desirous of seeing the performance of a deed 
of witchcraft, and thou, methinks, art not altogether a 
novice in the mysteries. Thus far, indeed, I know for 
certain, and, knowing, feel most sensibly, that not- 
withstanding I have hitherto viewed with indifference 
the charms of many a noble Eoman lady, thy rosy 
cheeks, thy brilliant eyes, and thy shining hair 
have thoroughly enthralled my senses, and led me 
captive." 

*' Oh 1 Lucius," replied Fotis, " verily I will do thy 



88 WITNESSES THE TEANSFOEMATION Book HI. 

bidding at my own peril, notwithstanding that my mis- 
tress, because the public watch all her operations with 
extraordinary vigilance, performs all her mysteries in 
the most secret solitude, and in the presence of no 
living human being. But as I admonished thee in 
the beginning, preserve a profound silence in a 
matter of such awful importance, and I will diligently 
seek a fitting opportunity to show thee the desired 
spectacle." 

A few days after the above interview, Fotis one 
morning running into my apartment in a state of great 
haste and trepidation, told me that her mistress, in 
consequence of the failure of her recent incantations, 
which, with regard to her design on the young 
Boeotian, had been unsuccessful, intended that evening 
to transform herself into a bird, and fly away to her 
beloved one. Accordingly she bade me prepare my- 
self to witness the wonderful proceeding, and in pur- 
suance of the arrangement, fulfilled her promise 
faithfully. At the first watch of the night, she came 
to summon me to the appointment, and conducted 
me, walking before all the way, with a soft noiseless 
step on tiptoe, to a chamber in the upper part of the 
house, immediately adjoining the above-mentioned 
celebrated balcony. Then Fotis showed me a crack 
in the door, and bade me look through it, upon which 
I looked, and saw Pamphile first divest herself of 
all her garments ; and then, having unlocked a chest, 
take from it several little boxes, and open one of the 



I 



Book III. OF PAMPHILE INTO AN OWL. 89 

latter, which contained a certain ointment. Eubbing 
this ointment a good while previously between the 
palms of her hands, she anointed her whole body, from 
the very nails of her toes to the hair on the crown 
of her head; and when she was anointed all over, 
she whispered many magic words to a lamp, as if she 
were talking to it. Then she began to move her arms, 
first with tremulous jerks, and afterwards by a gentle 
undulating motion, till a glittering downy surface by 
degrees overspread her body, feathers and strong quills 
burst forth suddenly, her nose became a hard crooked 
beak, her toes changed to curved talons, and Pamphile 
was no longer Pamphile, but it was an owl I saw before 
me. And now, uttering a harsh querulous scream, 
leaping from the ground by little and little, in order 
to try her powers, and presently poising herself aloft 
on her pinions, she stretched forth her wings on either 
side to their full extent, and flew straight away. 

Having now been actually a witness of the perform- 
ance of the magic art, and of the metamorphosis of 
Pamphile, I remained for some time in such a stupified 
state of astonishment, that although not positively spell- 
bound by the influence of enchantment, I could have 
readily fancied myself divested of the figure of Lucius, 
and transformed into any other animal. In short, I was 
temporarily deprived of my senses, and in a waking 
dream. At last, after I had rubbed my eyes some time, 
had recovered a little fi:om the amazement and abstrac- 
tion of mind,.and begun to feel a consciousness of the 



90 LUCIUS REQUESTS FOTIS Book III. 

reality of tMngs about me, I finally took hold of the 
hand of Fotis, and, in order to make myself quite 
sure I was awake, placing that fair hand upon my 
eyes, — " Sweet damsel," said I, " by these eyes, that 
are thine in truth and for ever devoted to thee, render 
me, I implore thee, a proof of the regard thou hast 
professed for me, and bind me for ever to thyself with 
the bonds of an eternal unappreciable obligation. Bring 
me, I beseech thee, my Venus, a portion of the ointment 
with which thy mistress hath just now anointed, and 
when thou hast made me a bird I will be thy slave, and 
ever wait upon thee like a winged Cupid." 

" Sweetheart," replied Fotis, " thou art cunning as 
a fox ! Wliat ! wouldst thou have me let slip the axe 
upon my ankles of my own free will ? Why then I 
shall hardly preserve my Lucius from the little she 
wolves of Thessaly ! * When thou art once become 
a bird, whither shall I go to seek thee — where ever 
again can I expect to see thee ? " 

* The meaning of the passage according to the reading I have 
adopted from the Francfort edition of 1621 — " Ain inquit, vul- 
pinaris amasio, meque sponte asciam crurihus meis ilUdere corn- 
penis'^ Siccine me vix a lupulis conservo Thessalis f — appears to 
be, that as the woodman who wounds himself with his axe in 
the forest becomes a prey to wolves, so does Fotis, by giving 
wings to Lucius, put herself in the power of her rivals the 
Thessalian damsels. 

In the Paris Delphin edition of 1628 the same passage is ren- 
dered differently, as follows : — " An inquit vulpinaris amasio 
meque sponte asciam crurihus meis illidere compellis? Siccine 
meum ipsa Lucium puellis conservo Thessalis ?" ^ 



4 



L, 



Book III. TO EFFECT HIS TEATS SFORMATION. 91 

" May the immortal gods decree otherwise," replied 
I. "Even were I the imperial eagle, Jove's trusty- 
messenger and arm-bearer, soariag triumphantly through 
the skies, with the wide expanse of the firmament open 
before me, yet would I speedily renounce the dignity of 
celestial flight, and drop earthward to my nest. Nay, 
by that lovely knot of hair of thine, that hath so en- 
chained my spirit, never, I swear, wiU I prefer any other 
human being in the world to my Fotis. Moreover, 
when thou hast time for reflection, little hast thou need 
to be jealous ; for when I have anointed and become a 
bird, far, very far away wiU it behove me to keep from 
human habitations. A beautiful and agreeable lover, 
truly, were an owl for a fair lady ! Why the moment 
those birds of night take refuge in people's houses, all 
manner of schemes are used to catch them, and when 
captured, they are nailed on the door outside the 
dwelling, to expiate, by excruciating torments, the evil 
destiny portended to the family. Lay then aside thy 
fears, lovely damsel, on that score ; and rather tell me 
what I had well-nigh forgotten to inquire of thee. 
When I have become a bird, what deed must be done, 
or what sound uttered, in order that I may get rid of 
my wings, and transform myself again into Lucius ? " 

" Make thyself easy on that account," replied 
she ; " my mistress has made me acquainted with 
every thing and substance necessary to restore all man- 
ner of metamorphosed figures to their original human 
form. Though I would not have thee think me in- 



92 LUCIUS, THROUGH FOTIS'S MISTAKE, Book III. 

debted to her benevolence for a faculty which hitherto, 
forsooth, I have never exerted otherwise than towards 
herself, when, as on an occasion like, the present, it has 
become necessary to disengage her from enchantment. 
The means to produce a result so important are mar- 
vellously simple — nothing more than various common 
herbs — for instance, a few grains of aniseed and laurel- 
leaves infused in spring water for a draught and lotion." 
Being quite satisfied on the latter point, and Fotis 
having given me the assurance over and over again, 
I finally prevailed upon her to accede to my earnest re- 
quest. Accordingly, she crept gently out of the 
apartment, quickly returned with the box of oiatment, 
hastily placed it in my hands, and then immediately 
departed. 

Elated to an extraordinary degree at the sight of 
the precious treasure, I kissed the box several times 
successively ; and uttering repeated aspirations in hopes 
of a prosperous flight, I stripped off all my clothes as 
quick as possible, dipped my fingers greedily rato 
the box, and having thence extracted a good large 
lump of ointment, rubbed it all over my body and 
limbs. When I was thoroughly anouited, I swung 
my arms up and down, in imitation of the move- 
ment of a bird's pinions, and continued to do so a 
little while, when, instead of any perceptible token of 
feathers or wings making their appearance, my own 
thin skin, alas ! grew into a hard leathern hide covered 
with bristly hair, my fingers and toes disappeared, 



Book III. CHANGED INTO A DONKEY. 93 

the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet be- 
came four solid hoofs, and from the end of my spine a 
long tail proceeded. My face was enormous, my 
mouth wide, my nostrils gaping, my lips pendulous, and 
I had a pair of immoderately long, rough, hairy ears. In 
short, when I came to contemplate my transformation 
to its full extent, I found that instead of a bird I ha^ 
become changed into an ass. 

No sooner was I aware of the misfortune that had 
befallen me, than, before I was able to give utterance to 
lamentation, Fotis at that very moment returned into 
the apartment, while I, not only deprived of human 
form, but of human speech also, looked at her reproach- 
fully with tearful eyes, and bemoaned my fate in 
silence. Perceiving what an animal I had become, 
she beat her forehead with her hands in a paroxysm 
of gri^f, exclaiming " I am undone ! I am for ever 
undone ! Through haste, trepidation, and the like- 
ness of one to the other, I took the wrong box of 
ointment ! " Then, addressing herself to me, she 
added, " 'Tis fortunate that the remedy for thy trans- 
formation is not difficult ; again once more, ere long, 
thou wilt be my Lucius : nought more hast thou to 
do but eat roses in the morning, and then immediately 
thou wilt quit the form of an ass, and regain thy hunian 
figure. Would that this evening, as I am frequently 
used to do, I had plaited roses into chaplets ; then 
thou wouldst not, even for a single night, have re- 
mained in thy present condition. Now, alas ! ere I 



94 INGRATITUDE OF THE WHITE HORSE. Book III. 

can be able to procure thee the floral remedy, another 
day must dawn." 

Thus did Fotis continue for some time to express 
her sorrow, while I, a perfect ass and beast of burden, 
though no longer Lucius, being nevertheless still in 
possession of human understanding, deliberated all the 
time with myself whether, in case she had intentionally 
deceived me, I ought not immediately to fall upon 
such a wicked creature, and bite her and kick her to 
death. But more mature reflection prevented my com- 
mitting myself to such a rash enterprise, which, by 
inflicting the punishment of death upon Fotis, would 
have extinguished all chance of her assistance. Shaking 
my head therefore dejectedly, determining to bear in 
silence my temporary disgrace, and going to seek that 
very worthy horse of mine that 1 had ridden on my 
journey, I found him standing in the stable, together 
with another ass like myself, belonging to my host Milo. 
And now, thought I to myself, if there be aught of 
silent holy recognition and sympathy among dumb ani- 
mals for one another, then will that horse not only treat 
me with common hospitality, but will behave to me, 
as the Eomans behave to their ambassadors, most 
magnificently. But, oh Jupiter hospitalis, and all ye 
secret guardians of good faith, it was just the contrary ! 
The moment that pretty nag of mine perceived me 
coming to the manger, he, together with Milo's ass, 
immediately inclined their noses towards one another, 
and plotted schemes for my destruction. Concluding 



Book III. INGRATITUDE OF THE WHITE HORSE. 95 

that I was advancing with the design to eat their food, 
they laid back their ears both together, and, furiously 
lashing forth their heels, drove me away from the very 
barley which, with my own hands, I had laid ^before an 
imgrateM servant the evening before. Being thus 
scurvily used, and, as it were, driven into banishment, 
I retreated to a solitary corner of the stable to ruminate 
on the insolence of my colleagues, comforting myself 
by the reflection that in the morning, the very first mo- 
ment a breakfast of roses restored me to the form of 
Lucius, and enabled me to execute the design, I would 
have my revenge on the perfidious horse. 

At this moment, while these thoughts and plans were 
passing through my mind, I suddenly looked up and 
perceived a small aedicula supported against one of the 
beams, which, standing in the middle of the stable, bore 
the weight of the roof; and within the sedicula there 
was a little statue of Hippona, the tutelar goddess of 
horses, wearing on its head, in addition to the usual ar- 
ticles of ornament, a chaplet of fresh blooming roses ! 
Inspired with instant joy at the sight of the salutary 
spectacle, replete with exhilarating hope, and valiantly 
rearing upon my hinder legs,' I rested my fore-legs on 
the beam as high as I could reach, stretched out my neck, 
extended my lips as far as I was able, and was making a 
violent endeavour to catch hold of the roses, when all 
of a sudden my servant boy, who had constantly charge 
of the horse, and was lying down beside him, most un- 
luckily saw my proceedings. The boy, the moment he 



96 THRASHED BY HIS LATE SERVANT. Book III. 

perceived what I was about, springing upon Hs feet in 
a rage, "Thou brute of a jackass," said he, "what 
mortal being can bear thy doings any longer ? A while 
ago thou wert for stealing the corn from my cattle, and 
now thou art robbing the statues of the gods ! But soon 
will I cripple and set thee a hobbling, thou heretic." 
With that, looking about the stable for a weapon, and 
by chance striking his foot against a bundle of sticks on 
the ground, he chose the biggest he could find amongst 
them, a rough knotted cudgel, and began to thresh my 
wretched hide with it most cruelly. Neither did he 
cease to belabour me until a grievous alarm, that broke 
out all of a sudden, compelled him to leave off; for 
there arose in the house a most violent noise, accom- 
panied by thumping and smashing at the outer gate, 
and a general shouting of the people out of doors that 
proclaimed the presence of robbers. The boy, terrified 
out of his wits, immediately ran away, while a troop of 
banditti, every one carrying a torch as well as a 
sword, their blades gleaming in the flames, like the rays 
of the rismg sun, and illuminating the darkness of 
night, violently burst open the doors, and invaded 
every one of the chambers, while they guarded the out- 
side of the building so efiectually with their sentinels, 
that the neighbours were completely prevented from 
rendering any assistance. Meanwhile, with their heavy 
axes, they broke the strong bars belonging to the door 
of a room in the middle of the house, where Milo kept 
his money and valuables ; and having speedily pos- 



Book III. LOADED WITH PLUNDER. 97 

sessed themselves of all it contained, carried everything 
away in sacks. When, however, they proceeded to re- 
move the things from the house, and for that purpose 
were making a partition of the booty among one an- 
other, the superabundance of their wealth caused them 
to be reduced to extraordinary shifts; for the number 
of packages to be carried was considerably more than 
the beasts of burden at their disposal were able to 
bear. 

Accordingly they led out of the stable my horse, 
Milo's ass, and myself, put extraordinarily heavy loads 
on the backs of each of us, and, leaving an empty 
house behind, drove us away from the door, flourishing 
their large sticks over our backs all the way we went, 
while one of their confederates remained behind to 
watch and give notice of the measures taken by the 
magistrates in consequence of the robbery. Thus were 
we hurried along through retired bypaths of the moun- 
tains the remainder of the night, so that, in conse- 
quence of the extraordinary steepness of the road, the 
number of heavy packages on my back, and the distance 
we had travelled, I was almost dead before daybreak, 
and yet, in spite of our fatigue, we were still compelled 
to go on. At last it was broad daylight, and we were 
approaching near to a village, when a thought, calcu- 
lated at once to relieve me from my painful condition, 
though at a late period, occurred to me. The village, 
when we arrived there, being full of people celebrating 
their ninth-day fair, I determined to promulgate my 



98 PROSPECT OF DELIVERANCE. Book III. 

miseries to the civil power, and claim their protection, 
through the venerable name of the Emperor. There- 
fore, so soon as I found myself in the middle of a crowd 
of Greek men and women, I made a strenuous effort to 
enunciate the august dissyllable, and pronounce the 
words " Oh ! Caesar " in the genuine Greek language. 
But, alas! though the "Oh!" came forth clear and 
sonorous, not a particle of the word " Caesar " could I 
bring out for the life of me. Neither was my disap- 
pointment by the failure the only misfortune, for the 
robbers, exceediagly irritated at my discordant clamour, 
fell to threshing me with their knotted sticks, and per- 
sisted without remission until no human being alive, 
had I been dead and flayed, could have converted my 
hide to a corn-sieve * 

At last, after we had travelled some way beyond the 
village, we passed some farms and country houses, 
where, in a pleasantly situated little garden, a sight 
suddenly burst upon my eyes that seemed as if provided 
unexpectedly by Jupiter himself, on purpose for my 
deliverance. Among the various beautiful plants and I 
flowers growing in the garden, were several new-blown 
roses, dripping with morning dew ! Filled with ex- 
ceeding joy of heart, and elated with hope, I was 
moving briskly, with open mouth and watering lips, 
towards the lovely prize, when a reflection important 
to my safety came across me, and bade me at once re- 

* Such as, made of sheepskin pierced with holes, are in use 
in Italy and elsewhere at the present day. 



Book III. TKANSFOEMATION DEFERRED, 99 

frain from my present inclination. For, thought I to 
myself, '' to accomplish the transformation from the ass 
to thy form of Lucius, in the midst of a band of 
robbers, were only to rush to certain destruction ; either 
would they take thee for a wizard, and therefore destroy 
thee, or deprive thee of life at all events, in order to 
prevent the appearance of a living witness of their 
deeds." Such considerations compelled me to yield to 
dire necessity, and accordingly, with patient resigna- 
tion, reHnquishing the idea of eating roses for the pre- 
sent, I continued to champ the bridle under the form 
of an ass for a longer period. 



F 2 



100 UNLADEN BY THE KOBBERS. Book IV 



BOOK IV 

Adventure of Lucius in a Kitchen Garden — Disappointed in 
searctL of an Antidote for his Enchantment : — Caught fey the 
Gardener — - His escape — ■ Puisued bj'- Men and Dogs — 
Caught and craelly beaten — ArriYes at the Eobbers' Cave 
— The Robbers' Dame — Conversation of the Eobbers. 

Fourth Episode. — The Tale of the Rohher. 

Departure of Robbers on an Excursion — Their return mth a 
young Damsel — Her excessive Grief — ^ The Damsel relates 
her History — The Robbers' Dame comforts the Damsel with 
an entertaining Story. 

Fifth Episode. — Tale of Cdpid and Psyclie, 

Havixg now pursued our journey till the middle of the 
day, when the heat of the noontide sun was exceedingly 
scorching, we turned aside by a diverging road, and 
entered a small village, where we went to a house in- 
habited by some old men, who were friends and acquaint- 
ance of the robbers, or so, at least, though I was an ass, 
they appeared, in my judgment, to be, by the cordial 
manner in which they embraced and conversed together. 
Indeed, they whispered to one another with an air of 
profound secrecy, and the robbers gave them things 
taken off our backs as if it were their share of the booty. 
Finally, they removed the entire loads from all of us, 



I 



Book IV. IN A KITCHEN GARDEN. 101 

and turned us loose in a. neighbouring meadow to 
graze in the plenitude of liberty. For my own part, 
although I was perishing with hunger, not being yet 
quite habituated to make a dinner on grass, the senti- 
ment of social fellowship was insufficient to detain me 
in the company of my own horse and Milo's ass, par- 
ticularly as I perceived a quantity of kitchen vegetables 
growing in a small garden a little way off behind the 
stable. I went thither accordingly, and having boldly 
broken a way through the fence, filled my belly to my 
very heart's content with the greens, notwithstanding 
they were raw ; and after I had done eating, I began to 
look round about me in every direction, and to invoke 
the gods to my assistance, in hopes of catching sight of 
the glitter of roses in some of the adjacent gardens. 
For the solitude of the spot inspired me with an addi- 
tional inducement to attempt my transformation under 
circumstances where, after swallowing the remedy and 
casting aside the grovelling form of a quadruped, I 
might, when I recovered and stood up under the erect 
form of a man, be thorouglily concealed by shrubs and 
unobserved by any human being. 

With such an object in contemplation, a host of agree- 
able thoughts and anticipations began to arise in my 
mind, crowding upon one another in continual succes- 
sion, like the waves of the ocean, when suddenly, among 
the plants and shrubs that encompassed a mountain dale 
at a little distance, I espied, predominant among the 
foliage, the bright vermilion hue of roses, Delighted at 



102 IN SEAECH OF AN ANTIDOTE. Book IV. 

the spectacle, and not being altogether endowed with the 
heart of a brute beast, my imagination immediately pic- 
tured to me a grove inhabited by Venus and the Graces , 
in whose shady recesses the genial flower of the Queen 
of Love and Beauty flourished in more than ordinary 
splendour. So, invoking the divinity " PROSPEROUS 
Event," I instantly struck off in a gallop, without more 
ado, and, by Hercules, no longer felt like an ass, but 
actually fancied myself going at the tiptop speed of a race- 
horse striving for the goal in the Circus. But, alas ! 
this noble and remarkable effort of agility was not suf- 
ficiently rapid to outstrip the course of my evil fortune. 
For when I arrived at the spot, the space I had mis- 
taken for a dale was nought but the bed of a river, and 
the blooming objects of my desire, not those lovely ten- 
der roses, moist with divine nectarean dew, the wounds 
of whose very thorns and brambles yield delight and 
blessedness, but a sort of inodorous flower resembling 
roses, and growing in little light red cups upon the 
trees that lined the bank. The leaves of the trees in 
question are oblong, like laurel leaves, and the faint- 
scented flowers are called by the common people in 
their rural vocabulary ' ' laurel roses." 

Finding myself thus entangled in the web of misfor- 
tune, I at once abandoned all further hope of preserva- 
tion, and knowing those flowers and leaves to be fatal 
to all sorts of cattle, I determined voluntarily to destroy 
myself by eating the deadly poison. Accordingly, I 
was proceeding to execute my intention, though with 



Book IV. CAUGHT BY THE GARDENEE. 103 

slow and hesitating steps, when a young fellow, who at 
once I knew to be the gardener, whose garden I had 
made a desert of, came furiously upon me. Having 
only just discovered the mischief I had done him, he 
ran after me, and, having caught me, began without 
ceremony to belabour me with a great stick he carried 
in his hand, and continued to distribute his blows so 
thick over all parts of my body, that I actually thought 
he would have killed me. And so, indeed, had I not 
taken my own part and defended my life, he certainly 
would have done; but breaking away from him, sud- 
denly whirling round, and flinging my loins up into the 
air, I launched out my hinder hoofs at him several times 
in rapid succession till I sent him prostrate and severely 
wounded against a bank on the mountain's side. Then 
I galloped fast away from the place, but a woman, I sup- 
pose his wife, who was near the spot, a little higher up 
the hill, happening to look down below and see him lying 
on his stomach half dead, immediately ran towards him 
crying and howling so loud, that it seemed as if she 
had no other reason for her expression of pity than to 
bring me to destruction. For she aroused all the country 
people by her clamorous lamentations, and they instantly 
shouted to their dogs, and the dogs flew upon me from 
all quarters ready to tear me to pieces, while the men 
did all they could to exasperate and halloo them on, till 
certainly my life was placed m very hmninent danger. 
Taking, therefore, counsel with myself to suit the emer, 
gency, when I saw such a pack of dogs, great in size. 



104 BEATEN BY RUSTICS. Book IV. 

and many in number, enormous animals rather fit to 
grapple with lions or bears than torment a poor jackass, 
all approaching with infuriated speed to attack me, I 
immediately gave up all hopes of running away any 
farther, and galloped back to the stable whence I came as 
fast as my legs could carry me. Thither, however, the 
rustics, after calling off their dogs with much difficulty, 
followed me, and, having caught hold of me, immedi- 
ately tied me to a ring in the wall with a strong lea- 
thern thong, and began beating me so furiously that 
they most certainly would have put an end to me, had 
I not, by aid of a miraculous catastrophe, produced jointly 
by the pain of the blows and the abundance of raw 
greens I had devoured, been suddenly enabled to scatter 
in dismay the enemies in my rear, and afford time to 
my masters, the robbers, to come to my rescue. 

The sun had descended from his meridian height 
and was slanting his beams upon the earth, when we 
were all once more led out of the stable, and a heavier 
load was placed upon my back than upon any of the 
others. Consequently, after we had gone through a 
considerable portion of the day's journey I was tho- 
roughly overpowered and knocked up by distance and 
the weight of my load. At last, while, disheartened by 
the blows of the robbers' sticks and the pain of my bat- 
tered hoofs, I was moving onwards limping and tripping 
as I went, we came to a gently flowing rivulet that 
pursued its winding course by the side of the road. 
Here I resolved to watch the first opportunity I could 



Book IV. SCHEME OF ESCAPE. 105 

seize and then bolt into the water, where, thought I, 
" Instantly bending my four legs under me and drop- 
ping down on my belly, there, in spite of the blows of 
all their sticks, will I remain : aye, sooner shall they run 
me through with a sword than compel me to rise." I 
moreover reflected that it was very likely that the rob- 
bers, seeing I was half dead and reduced to an extreme 
state of debility, might consider me deserving of an 
honourable discharge, and be content, were it only 
from impatience of being delayed on the road and the 
fear of pursuit, to divide the load I carried on my back 
among the other beasts of burden, and leave me a prey 
to the wolves and vultures without wreaking their ven- 
geance on me any further. No sooner, however, had 
I completed the arrangement of this admirable scheme 
than it was thwarted by untoward fortune ; for all of a 
sudden the other jackass, as if he actually anticipated 
by diviliation what I intended to do, pretended to be 
overcome with fatigue also, and instantly dropping 
down in the road, with all the baggage on his back, lay 
there like a dead creature. Upon which the robbers, 
perceiving that neither by beating nor by goading, nor 
by pulling at his legs, nor by rocking him this way and 
that way by his ears and tail, could they prevail upon 
him to get up, became exasperated by a delay which to 
them, under the circumstances, seemed the period of a 
man's life, and took counsel together as to what was to 
be done in the emergency. Considering the animal no 
better than if he were dead, or made of stone, they 

F 3 



106 THE EOBBERS' CAVE. Book IV.- 

determined to waste no more time about Hm ; so they 
cut through the sinews of all his legs with a sword, and 
after dividing the load on his back between my horse 
and myself, dragged him, yet breathing, to the side of 
the road, and pitched him headlong over a high pre- 
cipice into the valley below. Taking warning, there- 
fore, by the fate of my miserable comrade, and knowing 
by the conversation I had overheard among the robbers 
that their place of habitation, where our journey would 
finally terminate and ourselves have plenty of rest, was 
not far distant, I resolved not to have any more re- 
course to treacherous tricks, but prove myself an honest 
ass to my masters for the time to come. 

We had proceeded but a little way after the event 
above related, when we ascended a gentle hill and 
arrived at the place of oiir destination, where no sooner 
had we halted, than the loads were removed from oiF 
all our backs, and the things taken within the dwell- 
ing. At this moment, the instant I felt myself re- 
lieved from the weight of my burden, in order to 
obtain the refreslmient of a bath for my weariness, I 
roll'ed myself over and over again in the dust. Wlience, 
reader, it behoves me to arise at this period of my nar- 
rative to make trial of my abilities, and to prove to thee 
satisfactorily that though, indeed, at the present period 
I was an ass in form, I was not altogether an ass in 
sense and understanding. The things, moreover, that 
henceforth I shall have to describe alike require it. 

First, then, with regard to the locality of the spot. 



Book IV. THE ROBBERS' CAVE. ^ 107 

and the robbers' cave, — the part of the monntain 
where we now were was rough and rugged, covered 
with large trees, and rose to an extraordinary height. 
Winding paths, leading between craggy rocks towards 
the summit, were rendered inaccessible, and naturally 
protected on either side by holes, and fissures, and 
gullies choked with brambles ; while below, the surface 
of the dales and valleys was overflowed by stagnant 
pools and the waters of a sluggish lake, which waters, 
from a source on the crest of the mountain, were 
vomited forth in bubbling streams, which first fell 
headlong over a precipice, and then pursued a meander- 
ing course downwards in various tiny silver rivulets. 
Immediately above the cave stood a lofty tower, and in 
front of the cave a small enclosure, like a sheep-fold, 
fenced with hurdles instead of a wall, and with a door 
formed of the branches of small trees ; which enclosure, 
reader, on my authority you may call the robbers' 
atrium. Besides the above objects there was no other 
appearance of house or building, save a small roughly- 
constructed hut of reeds, where, as I afterwards learned, 
those of the banditti appointed to keep watch during 
the night remained. 

Such being the appearance on the outside of the 
robbers' domicile, they having left us fastened to the 
adjacent trees with strong leathern thongs, now en- 
tered the enclosure, and thence, compressing their 
limbs in a crouching attitude, crawled one after ano- 
ther into the cave. No sooner had they arrived within 



108 THE ROBBERS' DAME. Book IV. 

than immediately tliey began to call and shout in an 
angry tone ; upon which an old woman made her ap- 
pearance, who, notwithstanding age had bent her 
double, appeared to be entrusted with the entire charge 
of all these lusty young men. 

"Why," exclaimed one of them to the aged dame, 
" thou that art, like a corpse on the funeral pile, a dis- 
grace to mortal life, and Pluto's abomination, dost thou 
make game of us that thou hast thus been sitting at 
home all day idle ? What, at this late hour, after all 
our labours and perils, hast thou nothing to give us for 
supper, and nought to think of but continually to pour 
wine down thy throat into that greedy growling sto- 
mach of thine ?" 

" Brave, honourable young gentlemen, my masters," 
replied the old woman, who seemed frightened out of 
her wits, " brave, honourable young gentlemen," said 
she, in a tremulous creaking voice, " all, all is ready — 
stewed meats, sweet and smoking in rich gravy, wine in 
abundance, cups cleaned bright, and plenty of loaves of 
bread. The water, too, for your hasty bath is heated 
as usual." 

In consequence of the latter assurance of the old 
woman, the robbers immediately undressed themselves, 
and when they were stripped stark naked they sluiced 
their bodies with hot water and afterwards anointed 
themselves with oil. Then, while their limbs were 
refreshed by the warmth of a large fire, they reclined 
at the table, which was abundantly supplied with dishes. 



Book IV. CONVERSATION OF THE ROBBERS. 109 

Scarcely, however, were they severally arranged in 
their places than a parcel of other young men, many 
more in number than the first portion, entered the cave, 
who, without a moment's hesitation, one would have 
pronounced to be robbers also ; for they brought with 
them booty of various sorts, such as abundance of gold 
and silver in money and drinking vessels, as well as 
silken garments embroidered with gold. And now the 
latter portion of the troop having alike with their com- 
panions refreshed themselves by a bath, reclined at the 
table among the others, with the exception of a few on 
whom the duty of waiting on all the rest had devolved 
by lot. Then, all at once falling to eating and drinking, 
in the most disorderly manner, they attacked the heaped 
platters of stewed meat, whole mounds of bread, and the 
cups arranged in soldierlike array all along the table. 
And when they had done they raised a violent noise by 
romping together, bawling forth songs as loud as they 
were able, playing all manner of jokes, and bantering 
one another ; in short they behaved like so many The- 
ban Lapitha3 or Centaurs. At last one who in stature 
surpassed all the others, addressing himself to the rest 
of his companions — 

"Eight bravely," said he, ''did we pummel that 
house of Milo in Hypata, and valuable is the booty 
that our strength and valour hath procured. Moreover 
we have returned back again to our camp in safety ; 
aye, and if 'twere aught to reckon, with eight legs more 
than we started with. But ye who have been foraging 



110 CONVERSATION OF THE ROBBERS. Book IV. 

among the cities of Boeotia have your ranks diminished 
by the loss of the bravest of leaders, Lamachus, whom 
far rather had I seen here safe and sound among you 
than all the trumpery packages you have brought 
hither. Nay, while the memory of Lamachus, whom, 
no doubt, excess of courage stimulated to destruction, 
will hold a place among kings and noble leaders of 
armies, as for all of you, ye are nought but sneaking, 
cowardly fellows, who go crawling about the public 
baths, and commit your petty burglaries in old women's 
miserable habitations." 

When the tall stout robber had finished speaking, 
one of the new comers to whom he had addressed him- 
self replied as follows : — 

" Dost thou not know," said he, ^^or art thou alone 
of all the men belonging to our band in ignorance that, 
of all manner of houses, such as thou hast spoken of 
are the most difficult to attack, while large houses are 
broken open with greater facility ? Art thou not aware 
that in extensive buildings the apartments are scattered 
abroad, distant from one another, and in numerous 
families each person pays more regard to his own 
safety than the property of the master ? But the frugal 
solitary inhabitant of a small dwelling, whether the 
valuables he has to protect be few Or many, invariably 
makes a vigorous resistance in behalf of his property, 
and defends it at the risk of his life. Listen then, and 
by a tale that I will relate I will show thee the truth of 
what I say." 



Book IV. FOURTH EPISODE. Ill 



FOUETH EPISODE. 

TALE OF THE ROBBER. 

So soon as we had arrived in the seven-gated city of 
Thebes, as is the usual practice of our profession, we 
diligently made inquiries relating to the property of 
the inhabitants. Accordingly we heard of a certain 
banker, called Chryseros, who had the reputation of 
possessing a great deal of money, though, for fear of 
being appointed in consequence of his wealth to various 
offices and civil duties, he did all that lay in his power 
to conceal his treasure and make people believe he was 
poor. Dirty in his person and dressed in rags, he 
occupied a house which though small was strongly 
barred and bolted notwithstanding, and there, living in 
silence and solitude, he sat like a hen upon her nest, 
brooding all day over his money-bags. The house of 
this banker we determined to attack, imagining we 
should be able to possess ourselves of all his riches without 
difficulty or interruption ; and as the resistance of one 
single pair of arms was a matter of little consideration, 
we made no preparation for the enterprise otherwise 
than to assemble ourselves one evening all together at 
his door at nightfall. When we arrived there, not 
thinking it expedient for fear of alarmmg the neigh- 
bours either to break the lock, or smash the door, or 



112 FOURTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

lift the latter off its liinges, Lamaclius, our sublime 
standard-bearer, confident in his well-tried valour, 
engaged to do the business single-handed, and, intro- 
ducing Ms arm through an aperture made for the 
convenience of the people witliin to hang up the key, 
endeavoured to draw back a bolt that was on the other 
side. Meanwhile that most villanous of bipeds Chry- 
seros, who all the time had been awake and Hstening 
to what we were doing, advanced in breatliless silence, 
and, coming softly and stealthily to the spot with an 
enormous nail, made a violent effort all of a sudden, 
and nailed the hand of our leader to the wooden 
plank, leaving him there transfixed like a crucified 
criminal. Then immediately ascending to the roof 
of his wretched hovel, he bawled and shouted, and 
exclaimed that his house was on fire, till he alarmed 
all the neighbours, calhng on the people by their pro- 
per names, and in the name of the public safety, to 
render their assistance. The people accordingly, sti- 
mulated by the imminent danger, and terrified on 
account of their own property, came rumiing to the 
spot with alacrity, so that we should speedily have 
been overwhelmed with numbers, or reduced to the 
necessity of abandoning Lamachus, had not he himself 
devised a desperate expedient suited to the critical 
juncture. Instantly cutting off his arm right through 
the shoulder joint, and leavmg it hanging to the door, 
we tore our garments for bandages, enveloped the 
wound with abundance of covering, in order to prevent 



Book IV. FOUETH EPISODE. 113 

our track being discovered by the dropping of the 
blood, and hurried our comrade away along with us as 
fast as he was able to go. But that courageous, noble- 
minded hero, thus urged to sudden flight by the 
grievous multitude of people in the neighbourhood that 
pressed upon us, perceiving that nought but flight 
could save us from our peril, and feeling himself inca- 
pable of keeping pace with the rest of us, wliile safety 
for himself on the spot where we were was out of the 
question, besought and entreated us by the right hand 
of Mars, and by all manner of prayers and arguments, 
to acquit ourselves of our oath of allegiance to one 
another and at once free a brave companion from the 
horrors of captivity and torture. 

"For who," said he, "without a right arm can 
cut throats or plunder ? Without a right arm how 
can a brave robber survive? Happy, thrice happy, 
were "he to meet a voluntary death by the hands of 
his comrades." 

Lamachus in vain continued to persuade us to accede 
to his wishes, for we unanimously refused to commit a 
crime that we considered no less than parricide, so at 
last he took hold of his sword with his remaining left 
hand, kissed it several times, and buried it in his bosom 
with so violent an eflbrt that the point passed through 
and through his body, — and thus died our magnanimous 
leader. When he was no more, overcome with vene- 
ration for his courage, we speedily wrapped his remains 
in a linen garment, and committed his body to the river, 



114 FOURTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

thence to find, in tlie bosom of tlie wide ocean, a place 
of concealment and a sepulclire. 

Such being the termination appointed by Lamachus 
himself of a life celebrated for noble deeds, I will now 
proceed to relate how by the sinister influence of fortune 
Alcimus, another of our brave leaders, was deprived of 
existence, and how he miserably perished in spite of 
his well-concerted enterprises. Such was the misfor- 
tune we experienced on the occasion of attacking an- 
other small dwelling occupied by a lone proprietor Hke 
Chryseros. Alcimus, having mounted to the roof of the 
cottage of a certain old woman, had made a hole through 
the tiles, had descended into one of the upper chambers 
where the aged dame — whose windpipe, more is the pity, 
he forgot first of all to squeeze — lay asleep, and thence 
had thrown out of the window into the street, where 
we stood below ready to receive the articles, everything 
that the apartment contained worth carrying away. At 
last, after getting cleverly rid of all the old woman's 
goods, he came to the bed upon wliich she lay, so, 
rolling her out of it on the floor, he was proceeding to 
toss the blankets also after the other things out of the 
window, when the wicked old wretch threw herself on 
her knees before him, and, said she, *'Nay, my son, 
wouldst thou cast out a poor old woman's miserable 
property to the rich neighbours? To yon wealthy 
people who live in the house opposite ?" 

Alcimus, deceived at this crafty speech, immedi- 
ately looked out of the window in order to take a 



n 



Book IV. FOURTH EPISODE. ^ 115 

survey of the vicinity, not only to assure himself 
that the plunder fell into no other hands than those 
of his comrades, but to scrutinize the indications of 
wealth belonging to the people opposite, and discover 
whether the account given by the old woman of the 
inmates of the house were true. While Alcimus was 
thus engaged, observing all without with sagacious vigi- 
lance, but, careless of his own safety, his head and 
shoulders stretched out of the window till his weight 
was over-pendulous and his body unsteady, the old 
woman, while his attention was fixedly engaged on his 
purpose, came gently behind him, and by a feeble but 
sudden and unexpected eifort, throwing him off his 
balance, hurled him in a moment headlong into the 
street. In addition to the height of the fall, he alighted 
on an enormously large stone, where he lay on the 
ground with all his ribs broken and vomiting blood 
in a stream, till death, that left him barely enough of 
life to relate to us what had happened, speedily put an 
end to his torments. 

Thus we, having suffered a double calamity in the 
loss of two of our comrades, resolved to abandon at 
once our Theban enterprises ; and accordingly, per- 
forming the rites of sepulture as we had done to 
Lamachus, we committed the body of his worthy fol- 
lower to the waves, and immediately departed on our 
way to Platen, the next large city. When we arrived 
at Platese, we learnt that a certain celebrated person- 
age, of noble family and enormous fortune, by name 



116 FOURTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

Demochares, remarkable for the splendour of his public 
entertainments, was speedily about to give a gladiatorial 
exMbition worthy of his great wealth; and the pre- 
parations then in progress were on a scale of such mag- 
nificence, that the most eloquent person alive could 
hardly find words to express the extent and variety. 
Already there were collected fi:om various parts, and 
assembled in the city, bands of practised gladiators, 
hunters celebrated for pedestrian prowess, and gangs 
of criminals, who, condemned to be devoured by wild 
beasts in the arena, were meanwhile pampering their 
bodies with luxurious food, in hopeless apathy. Then 
there were also constructed and ready, moveable ma- 
cliines in the form of turrets, formed of planks lashed 
together like wooden houses, beautifiilly painted out- 
side with pictures, and intended for receptacles for the 
performers during the festivity. 

With respect to the vastly numerous collection of wild 
beasts, which, without regard to labour or expense, had 
been brought from foreign countries for the purpose of 
being, made the living sepulchres of many a devoted 
victim, it were quite impossible to give an account of 
the number and appearance, though among them were 
also a great number of bears procured in the neighbour- 
hood. Many of the latter animals, in addition to the ordi- 
nary apparatus of the ensuing spectacle, the immense 
fortune of Demochares had enabled him to obtain by 
purchase, others were taken in the chace by his own 
servants, and several were given him by friends, who 



Book IV. FOURTH EPISODE. 117 

on tke present occasion vied with one another in show- 
ing similar tokens of generosity. Meanwhile the en- 
vious glance of qytI Fortune fell upon Demochares, and 
marred these noble preparations for the public amuse- 
ment. Although all the bears were carefuUy and 
sumptuously provided for, they were suddenly visited 
by a dire pestilence, which, whether in consequence 
of their long confinement and want of exercise, or 
owing to the burnmg heat of the sun, reduced them to 
a sadly emaciated state, and killed the greater number. 
Such, indeed, was the awful mortahty that prevailed, 
that very few were left ahve ; and, reader, you might 
have seen in the streets wherever you went, the dead 
and half-dead bodies of bears all over the town, lying 
like stranded vessels on the sea-shore. ' While the state 
of appearances, when we arrived at Platese, was as 
above stated, the ignoble vulgar, whom unmitigated 
poverty compelled to feed without discrimination, were 
flocking from all quarters to the city to fiU their 
shrunken bellies, and batten on the sordid offal of the 
carcases. 

The latter circumstance suggested to our comrade 
Babulus and myself a clever invention. In the first 
place, we selected from among the dead bodies of the 
bears that of a female exceeding all the rest in size 
and condition, and, as if we had need of the flesh for the 
purpose of nourishment, conveyed it to our habitation. 
There we stripped from the body the skin, with the 
head, separated at the neck-joint, attached to it, as well 



118 POUKTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

as all tlie feet and claws ; and carefully scraping the 
inner surface of tlie liide tiU we had considerably atte- 
nuated the substance, we sprinkled it with finely- 
powdered asbes, and exposed it in tbe sun to dry. 
Wliile tbe oily matter was being exbaled by tbe force 
of celestial beat, we vigorously gorged ourselves with 
a portion of the sound pulpy flesh ; and when we had 
made a hearty meal, we all took a solemn oath that one 
of our number — one rather remarkable for stoutness of 
heart than bodily strength, but a volunteer above all 
things — should be sewn up in the hide, and carried in 
the form of a Kve bear to the house of Demochares, in 
order to facilitate our entrance, on a seasonable occa- 
sion, in the dead of night. 

An enterprise so plausible stimulated not a few of 
our brave college to undertake the execution, and 
finally our comrade Thrasyleo was selected from among 
many others to undergo the hazard of the die. With 
a serene countenance, therefore, Thrasyleo took hold 
of the hide, which was now rendered quite soft and 
flexible, and having wrapped it about himself in such a 
manner that liis head occupied the neck of the animal 
at that part precisely where the spine had been divided, 
we brought the edges close together, and sewed the 
seams with fine stitches, overlaid with the thick hair 
growing along the line of juncture. Then we pierced 
small holes in front of his eyes and nostrils, in order 
that he might see, and have air to breathe. So soon 
as he was thus completely disguised, we purchased a 



Book IV. FOURTH EPISODE. 119 

beast's cage for a small sum of money, into whicli 
Thrasyleo, who was now transformed into the perfect 
resemblance of a bear, with unilincliing courage crawled. 
After the above preliminaries were arranged, and we 
had thus made a beginning, in order to carry the 
remainder of our design into execution we completed 
the manoeuvre as follows : — 

Having ascertained that in the neighbourhood there 
was a particularly intimate friend of Demochares, by 
name Nicanor, we addressed a counterfeit letter in 
Nicanor's name to Demochares, expressive of his desire 
to dedicate to the latter, in token of friendship, the 
first fruits of a hunting party. We then waited until 
late in the evening, and, availing ourselves of the dark- 
ness, or rather applying the obscurity of the season to 
an unholy purpose, we carried the cage containing our 
comrade Thrasyleo, together with the counterfeit letter 
above mentioned, to the house of Demochares. We had 
no sooner arrived there than Demochares, vastly de- 
lighted at the size and appearance of the animal that 
he believed to be a bear, in excess of joy at the liberality 
of his friend Nicanor, immediately took from the purse 
he carried about him ten pieces of gold, which he 
ordered to be given us by his attendants, " as a remu- 
neration," he said, '' for the pleasure we were the means 
of affording him." Meanwhile the people had already 
assembled in great numbers to view the large animal 
newly imported; and, instigated by the influence of 
novelty that invariably excites the minds of men on the 



120 FOURTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

sight of any new spectacle, many were proceeding to 
examine him rather too inquisitively, had not Thrasyleo 
played his part so well, and so cleverly managed his 
menacing gestures, that he contrived to keep them all 
at proper distance. They declared unanimously that 
Demochares, sufficiently celebrated before in many pre- 
vious instances, was the happiest and luckiest man alive, 
whom Fortune, determined to assist in one way or 
other, now that he had suffered so heavy a loss among 
his wild beasts, had once more condescended to uphold 
by this new arrival. At last, when all the people pre- 
sent were satisfied with the inspection of the bear, De- 
mochares issued orders for its immediate removal to one 
of his farms, and was giving most particular directions re- 
lative to the manner of carefully transporting it thither, 
when, said I, addressing myself to Demochares, " Our 
bear, noble sir, hath suffered severely from fatigue and 
the heat of the sun during the long journey ; beware, 
therefore, to trust her with others of her kind among 
thy herd, which, methinks, are hardly yet recovered 
from the late pestilence. Kay, well art thou aware that 
such -creatures delight to roam at large in shady groves 
and on pleasant hills, and resort to moist caverns and 
cool fountains continually. ^^Hierefore thine own dwell- 
ing, forsooth, whose open airy site is refreshed by the 
salubrious breezes of the adjacent lake, might peradven- 
ture afford a more suitable receptacle for the bear than 
the place where 'tis proposed to send her." At these 
words, Demochares, reflecting on the great number 



Book IV. FOURTH EPISODE. 121 

of bears he had already lost, became alarmed at the ad- 
monition, and readily consented to have the cage, with 
Thrasyleo, carried into his house, and placed wherever 
we thought proper. Whereupon, addressing myself 
once more to Demochares, "Since heat and vexation," 
said I, *' have marvellously afflicted the temper of the 
brute, and we are better acquainted with the proper 
times to give her meat and drink than a stranger, will- 
ingly will we, if thou think well of it, remain within 
all night and watch the cage." " We need none of thy 
services," replied Demochares: "daily practice hath 
sufficiently exercised my household in the treatment of 
bears, and right well do they understand the manner 
of feeding them." 

So soon as Demochares had given us the latter reply, 
we made our obeisance and took our leave. We then 
departed out of the gate of the city, along the road, 
whence we soon diverged on observing a monumental 
building in a retired position on one side. On arriving 
there, finding the building to be a columbarium, we 
broke open the numerous receptacles of the dust and 
ashes of the dead, whose covers were already half de- 
stroyed by age and natural decay, and thus made ready 
convenient hiding-places for the booty we expected to 
obtain from the house of Demochares. And now a moon- 
less night having arrived, such as, according to the 
usual observances of our sect, is always chosen for such 
operations, our whole band assembled at an hour when 
the first powerful impulse of sound sleep invades and 



122 FOURTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

overcomes the hearts of mortals, and all of us stood, 
sword in hand, ready to fulfil the obligations of our 
oath, at the appointed spot. In like manner, Thrasyleo, 
with intuitive burglarious instinct, having hit upon 
the precise moment, simultaneously crept out of his 
cage, put to death every one of the guards who lay 
asleep near the door, and finally having killed the porter 
himself by a thrust of a sword, he opened the gate with 
the key taken from the latter, and let us all in. In 
therefore we all rushed immediately, and being speedily 
collected within the body of the building, we pro- 
ceeded without more ado to break open the door of a 
chamber that Thrasyleo showed us, where, as he had 
sagaciously remarked the evening before, a large quan- 
tity of silver plate was deposited. Having by our 
united force accomplished the latter object without 
difficulty, I proposed to my comrades that they should 
each take as much of the gold and silver treasure as 
he was able to carry, and convey it with the utmost 
speed to the columbarium, there to be left in charge of 
those who, of all other mortals in the world, are most 
fitted to be trusted, namely, the dead ; and that then 
they should return without delay to the house of Demo- 
chares to fill their sacks again. At the same time I said 
I would remain alone wdiere I was for the general good, 
and taking post in front of the house door, would keep 
careful watch lest anything extraordinary might occur 
before they came back. For methought the figure of a 
great she bear, loose and running about all over the 



Book IV. FOURTH EPISODE. 123 

house, was a most opportune safeguard, and sufficient 
to frighten out of their wits any member of the family 
that might happen to awake. Who, indeed, at the sight 
of such an enormous beast, especially a person aroused out 
of his sleep in the middle of the night, would not, how- 
ever brave and intrepid he might be naturally, imme- 
diately take to his heels and run away in a state of 
fear and trepidation? — aye, and bolt himself into the 
cellar ? 

An unfortunate result, however, attended these judi- 
cious arrangements, as ill luck would have it ; for, while 
I was thus remaining in a state of anxious suspense 
waiting the return of my comrades, one of the servant 
boys of the house happening to awake in consequence 
of a noise produced by some untoward fatality, crept 
out of bed, and the moment he caught sight, as he 
thought, of an enormous wild beast wandering at full 
liberty about the apartments, immediately retraced his 
steps the way he came, and in the most cautious manner 
possible, preserving the strictest silence all the time, 
communicated to all the inhabitants of the dwelling the 
spectacle he had witnessed. Accordingly the attendants 
and domestics of the extensive household being thus 
alarmed, made their appearance, without a moment's 
delay, in such numbers that the house appeared filled 
with a multitude of people, every one of whom, besides 
bearing a night light of one sort or other, such as a 
torch, a lamp, a wax candle, or a tallow candle, which 
altogether thoroughly illuminated the darkness with a 

g2 



124 FOUETH EPISODE. Book IV. 

blazing light, carried also a weapon of some description, 
either a club or a spear, a drawn sword or similar 
offensive implement, with which they collectively 
guarded every approach to the house, and then brought 
a parcel of huge rough wolf-dogs to attack the bear. 

Meanwhile, as the tumult continued to increase more 
and more, I retreated gradually, moving step by step 
backwards by slow degrees, till I got out of the house, 
and ensconced myself behind the outer gate, whence I 
had a view of the conflict, and perceived Thrasyleo de- 
fending himself most wonderfully against the dogs. 
Such, indeed, was the effectual resistance he opposed to 
his antagonists, by the various attitudes and movements 
of his body and limbs, that, though struggling as it were 
against the triple jaws of Cerberus, and though life was 
ahnost extinct within him, yet, mindful of his former 
glorious deeds, steady to his allegiance, and determined 
even to his last breath to fulfil the scenic part he had 
voluntarily undertaken, he finally succeeded, fighting 
at one time and retreating at another, to make his way 
out of the house. But, alas ! though he got out of 
doors and reached the public way, he was yet imable 
to attain the enjoyment of liberty, for several other 
savage dogs belonging to the people in the adjoining 
street came rushing to the spot, and reinforcing the 
dogs of the chase that followed from the house, now 
mingled all together in a united pack, and attacked 
him conjointly, wliile Thrasyleo, hemmed in and sur- 
rounded on every side by the raging animals, was 



Book iV. FOURTH EPISODE. 125 

severely lacerated by tlieir teeth in all parts of his 
body. At last, imable to bear the cruel terrible spec- 
tacle any longer, overcome with grief, and anxious to 
adopt the only possible means in my power secretly 
to help my comrade, I mingled among some of the 
clusters of people who were hurrying to the spot from 
all directions, and addressing myself to those who ap- 
peared to be encouraging the dogs, "Shame, shame," 
said I, "to rob the people of their sport at the coming 
spectacle, and suffer such a fine bear to be destroyed in 
this manner I " 

But the artifice was of no avail, nor were my words 
of any service to the imfortunate Thrasyleo. On 
the contrary, just at the moment they were uttered, 
one tall strong fellow came running out of the house and 
pierced his body with a spear ; then followed, with 
drawn swords, a second and a third, and afterwards 
several more, all emboldened by the increase of their 
numbers, till, to the honour of our noble band, l^e de- 
voted Thrasyleo, whom neither sword nor spear, nor the 
teeth of furious dogs, could compel to forfeit his oath 
or utter a cry or groan, submitted with vigorous 
generosity to his cruel lot, and yielded his life to fate 
with a growl worthy of immortaHty. Such, indeed, 
was the impression he created by his valour among 
the crowd, that the morning had elapsed — aye, and the 
day was pretty well advanced— before any of the inha- 
bitants of the city, notwithstanding the creature that 
they took to be a bear was lying dead on the ground. 



126 FOURTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

would venture to lay a finger on the body or even 
approach the carcase. At length, however, a certain 
butcher, who happened to be a little bolder than his 
neighbours, advancing at first timidly and slowly, and 
coming nearer and nearer by degrees, ripped open 
with his knife the hide of the bear and robbed it of the 
magnanimous robber, the brave Thrasyleo, who though 
lost to us still lives in glorious memory. 

Forthwith we made a rapid retreat from the city of 
Plateae, and having collected the packages of booty left 
under the care of the faithful dead at the Columbarium, 
we left the locality with a full impression on our minds 
that, scared at the wicked practices of our profession, 
thither had Fidelity fled and taken her abode. Fatigued 
with the weight of the loads and our long rough jour- 
ney, and oppressed with sorrow at the loss of three of 
our comrades, such are the circumstances under which 
we have procured and brought hither the booty which 
now you see. 

END OF THE FOURTH EPISODE. 



Here the robber brought his narrative to a conclusion, 
upon which the remainder of the troop proceeded im- 
mediately to make a libation of pure undiluted wine, 
poured from golden cups, to the memory of their de- 



Book IV. ROBBERS DEPART ON AN EXCURSION. 127 

ceased comrades ; and after they had finislied, having 
first sang a few songs in order to conciliate the god 
Mars, they all, one after another, fell fast asleep. My 
masters being thus employed, the old woman served 
out to myself and my horse such a quantity of barley 
without stint or measure, that my horse, no doubt, 
who had it all to himself, might have fancied himself 
at supper with those dancing gluttonous priests, the 
Salii. Meanwhile, for my part, although I had fasted 
so long that the spiders had begun to spin their webs 
about my lips, and moreover had had frequent op- 
portunities in former times of eating good rich gravy 
broth made of well-dried, well-crushed barley, I now 
preferred to rummage in a corner where the robbers 
deposited their bread, and exercise my jaws upon 
the loaves I found there till a late hour of the night, 
when the robbers suddenly awoke, and, striking their 
camp, sallied forth without more ado on a predatory 
excursion. Away they all went, some armed with 
swords, and others disguised like hobgoblins, and hur- 
rying away from the cave at a rapid pace, left me, whom 
sleep had not yet summoned from my occupation, chew- 
ing and chewing on most bravely and steadily. Such, 
indeed, was the profound depth of the belly I had to 
provide for, that although, in the days when I was 
Lucius, I should have departed satisfied from table after 
eating one or two loaves at farthest, I had now already 
devoured two whole basketsf'ul, and was just finishing 
the third. Nay even when broad daylight disturbed 



128 RETUEN WITH A DAMSEL. Book IV. 

me busy at the work, and tlie modesty of a jackass 
compelled me to leave the provender, it was with pain 
and sorrow that I at length tore myself away, and 
went to slake my thirst at the rivulet close by. 

Although the robbers when they departed had gone 
in full force and armed to the teeth, they returned 
again at an early hour in the day. Nevertheless they 
had taken no booty^ not so much as an old worn out 
gaberdine, and all their countenances bore an anxious, 
discontented expression, notwithstanding they brought 
with them one solitary prisoner, a damsel, who, judging 
from the style of her dress, belonged to a noble family, 
and in appearance was a person such as, by Hercules ! 
even I myself, although I was an ass, could not refrain 
from admiring. Meanwhile, as they led her into the 
cave, she tore her hair and rent her clothes and cried 
most bitterly ; and they, on the other hand, doing all 
they possibly could to alleviate her distress of mind 
and persuade her to make light of her misfortune, com- 
forted her with soothing words, as follows : — 

" Thy life," said they, " is safe ; neither shall any 
one oifer thee harm. Have patience then ; for 'tis the 
poverty of our sect that compels us to the necessity. 
Thy parents, moreover, albeit avaricious, possess heaps 
of money, and they right speedily will spare a fitting 
sum to procure thy ransom." 

But such exhortations on the part of the robbers 
failed to alleviate in the slightest degree the grief of 
the damsel. No wonder ! She on the contrary bent 



Book IV. HER EXCESSIVE GRIEF. 129 

hex face on her knees and wept immoderately, till the 
robbers, calling in the old woman and bidding the 
latter sit near her, speak kindly to her, and amuse her 
with conversation, again departed out of doors on their 
vocation. The discourse, however, of the little old 
woman .was quite unavailing and incapable of allur- 
ing her from her lamentations. She continued to cry 
and scream and scream and cry again, louder and 
louder, till her very stomach trembled, and her conti- 
nual unintermitting sobs drew tears even from my 
ass's eyes. 

" Miserable wretch that I am !" exclaimed she, " to 
be thus torn from my revered parents, my dearest 
friends, from all my family, and our kind good ser- 
vants ! A prisoner in a rocky cavern, a slave bereft of 
liberty, the ill-fated prey of a troop of banditti, de- 
prived of all the comforts I have enjoyed from my 
infency ! — Cease to cry ! How is it possible ? How 
even can life be supportable ? Here, while I remain 
among a host of savage robbers, a horrible troop of 
gladiators, without a single moment's safety, like a 
sheep in the butcher's shambles." 

Thus did the poor young damsel continue to lament, 
till, in addition to her grief of heart, the muscular ten- 
sion and convulsive heavings of her chest and throat 
produced corporeal lassitude and closed her languid eyes 
in sleep. But awaking suddenly again at a short interval, 
with a violent start, and springing up as if bereft of 
her senses entirely, she afflicted herself a great deal 

g3 



130 HER EXCESSIVE GRIEF. Book IV. 

more violently than before, cruelly smiting her beauti- 
ful face, and beating her bosom with the palms of her 
hands, while the tears showered from her eyes in 
greater abundance, and her sighs were more profound 
than ever. When the old woman inquired what it 
was that could possibly have caused this new paroxysm, 

" All, all is now over with me !" exclaimed she, 
" utterly and everlastingly am I ruined and undone ! 
Nay, I will hang myself, or drown myself, or throw 
myself over a precipice." 

The old woman, hearing the latter exclamation, 
grew a little angry, and with a severe expression of 
countenance bade her declare what ailed her afresh ? — 
what caused her to rise from her sleep so suddenly ? — 
and wherefore she gave way to such ungovernable 
lamentations ? 

" Surely," said she, " thou hast not a mind to de- 
Iraud my young men of thy ransom money ? But let's 
have no more on't, for, by my troth, little do robbers 
care for a young maiden's tears, I can tell thee ; and if 
thou dost not cease, and that right quickly, I'll have 
thee burnt alive." 

The young damsel was sadly terrified at the above 
speech of the old woman, and immediately kissing her 
hand, "Good mother," said she, " have a little pa- 
tience; spare me, I beseech thee, and pity, for the 
love of humanity, my sad misfortune. Thy grey hairs 
have made thee venerable, and age that hath brought 
thee experience surely hath not entirely dried up the 



Book IV. RELATES HER HISTORY. 131 

source of pity in thy bosom. Listen then, oh lis- 
ten, I pray thee, to the tale of wretchedness that I will 
unfold to thee. 

" I was pledged in the bonds of mutual love to a 
handsome youth, a citizen of high consideration, 
whom the public had unanimously dignified with 
civic honours. He was my own first cousin, three 
years only older than myself, with whom I had been 
brought up and educated in the same house from my 
infancy. The nuptial day, by the consent of our 
parents, was already appointed; our names were in- 
scribed on the tablets; victims had been sacrificed 
in the temples and on the public altars ; our house was 
crowded with a throng of friends and acquaintance in- 
vited to the ceremony ; the chambers were illuminated 
with torches, and the walls entirely covered with 
laurel leaves — when all of a sudden, while the whole 
assemblage were chanting 'the hymeneal song, and my 
mother, supporting me on her bosom, was arranging 
my bridal dress 'in simple form, and tenderly whis- 
pering in my ear her parental aspirations and her 
future hopes, her kisses were at once interrupted by a 
number of armed men who, formed in a compact, 
wedge-like band, waving their naked glittering swords, 
and raging as in the moment of battle, came rushing 
like gladiators into the chamber. To shed blood they 
cared not, neither did they seek for plunder; but, 
although not a single individual of the servants op- 
posed their progress nor ofieied the least resistance, 



132 RELATES HER HISTORY. Book IT. 

tliey forcibly tore me, trembling and half dead with 
fear, from my mother's arms. Thus was our marriage 
put an end to, like the nuptials of Perithous and the 
daughter of Athrax, and a most horrible dream, imme- 
diately before I awoke, renewed all my misery. 

" For methought people were carrying me by violence 
through solitary desert places, away from house and 
home and friends; and although, calling and reiter- 
ating the name of my husband, I refused to walk, they 
still continually persisted to hurry me along. Then 
methought I saw my husband dressed in his bridal 
dress and crowned with chaplets. And everywhere we 
went, methought my husband followed me. And me- 
thought he called to the people for assistance, and he 
said I was his lovely wife, and the people listened to 
the clamour and became excited ; and then the robbers 
grew angry, but still my husband followed, followed 
on unceasingly. At last methought one robber burst 
into a terrible rage, and took up a great stone that lay 
in the road, and threw the stone at my wretched hus- 
band, and killed my husband on the spot. And so the 
horrible sight frightened me out of my sleep and I 
started up." 

When the damsel had related her dream to the old 
woman, she again wept violently, and the other 
heaving a sigh at the sight of the poor maiden's tears 
thus addressed her : — 

" Be of good cheer, my young mistress," said she, 
" and be not terrified at the idle phantasies of dreams. 



Book IV. FIFTH EPISODE. 133 

Besides, dreams dreamt in tlie day time are never 
accounted true, and frequently even tlie events that 
appear in a dream during tlie niglit eventually liappen 
quite contrary. To dream of weeping, for example, 
or of being beaten, nay, even to dream tliou art killed 
outright, is nought than a sure sign of marvellous good 
fortime ; while to think: thou art laughing, or stuffing 
thyself with sweetmeats, is a certain foreboding of evil, 
followed always by sorrow, sickness, or some dire mis- 
fortune. But I will tell thee an old woman's story ; 
and if thou wilt listen to my pretty tale 'twill speedily 
cause thee to forget all thy trouble." 

The old woman having thus spoken began without 
more ado as follows :— 



FIFTH EPISODE. 



CUPID AKD PSYCHE. 



Once upon a time, in a certain city, there lived a 
king and a queen, and they had three fair daughters. 
The charms of the two elder sisters were a fitting and 
a constant theme of praise for all mankind, but the 
transcendent loveliness of the younger baffled the power 
of human language, and words were insufficient to con- 



134 FIFTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

vey an adequate idea of tlie perfection of her beauty. 
The busy tongue of Fame attracted to the spot great 
numbers of the citizens, and strangers from foreign 
parts, to idew the extraordinary spectacle ; but, unable 
to approach the radiant image, they all halted before 
her presence in mute astonishment, and placing their 
hands before their faces, in the attitude prescribed at 
the solemnities of the goddess Venus, stood stupiiied 
and riveted to the spot. Forthwith, accordingly, tid- 
ings were spread abroad through the adjacent provinces 
and among the neighbouring cities, that the celebrated 
divinity, erigendered in the azure depths of the ocean, 
and nourished on the foamy dew of the waves, had 
abjured her celestial sway, and mingled indiscrimi- 
nately with mortals in all parts of the earth; or at least 
that another Venus, other than the Venus of the sea, 
had dropped from the celestial stars, or been bom on 
earth. And now, as the news, travelling from day to 
day with increased rapidity, and speedily traversing the 
islands in the vicinity, extended over various of the 
continental provinces, many were the mortals who, by 
long journeys by land and by sea, flocked to see the 
glorious specimen of the age, while the votaries of 
Venus no longer set sail in ships to Paphos, nor to 
Cnidos, nor even to Cythera, to visit her principal 
shrines, but her sacrifices were unperformed, her tem- 
ples were desecrated, her pedestals overturned, and 

her ceremonies neglected — chaplets were no longer 

9 
brought to decorate her images, and cold extinguished 



Book IV. FIFTH EPISODE. 135 

ashes disgraced her widowed altars. A divinity^ in 
short, was idealized in a human countenance, and the 
great goddess of Love was worshipped in the person of 
a mortal maid, whom the people conciliated by banquets 
and the sacrifice of victims, instead of the absent Venus. 
And every morning as she walked abroad, they threw 
flowers and nosegays on her path, in testimony of their 
veneration. 

The true and real Venus, grievously incensed at heart 
at the undisguised translation of celestial honours to a 
creature of human race, indignantly shook her head, 
and muttering aloud to herself in her impatience, ex- 
claimed, with increasing tone of voice, ' ' What ! shall 
Venus, the first early parent of the universe, the initi- 
ative source of the elements, the nurse of the terrestrial 
world, be thus treated? Submit to participate with 
a mortal damsel honours alone due to her own ma- 
jesty ? Shall mortal dross profane a name perpetuated 
in heaven ? Shall the uncertain homage of vicarious 
worship at a common altar be permitted? Nay, for- 
sooth, shall a short-lived mortal maiden thus walk 
abroad under my likeness ? As if 'twere for nought that 
the shepherd of Mount Ida pronounced a verdict whose 
accuracy and justice even great Jove himself applauded, 
and preferred my unparalleled beauty to the beauty of 
the other goddesses ! Whosoever she be that hath thus 
obtained these honours, verily will I ere long make her 
repent the usurpation of my beauty." 

Thus spake the goddess, and forthwith summoned to 



.136 FIFTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

her -presence her winged son, that evil-mannered saucy 
scapegrace, who — petulant by natural disposition, capa- 
ble of nothing good, armed with flames and darts, and 
holding in contempt all manner of social obligations- — 
runs by night from house to house, is the cause of in- 
numerable bickerings in private families, and does all 
manner of mischief with impunity. Such was the youth 
whom the goddess conducted to the above-mentioned 
city, and, groaning with rage and indignation, having 
brought him to the presence of Psyche, for that was 
the name of the damsel, she acquainted him with all 
that had happened to her beauteous rival, and notwith- 
standing his already audacious disposition, addressed him 
in the following words : — ' ' I conjure thee by all the ties 
of maternal love, by thine arrow's honied point, and 
by thy torch's genial warmth, revenge, aye, and with 
filial reverence inflict an overflowing meed of vengeance 
for thy parent's injury. One thing above all I implore 
of thee to do, and do willingly. Punish the contu- 
macious beauty. Inspire her heart with ardent love of 
a mortal of mean condition, a wretch whom Fortune 
hath stripped of health and patrimony, a miserable gro- 
velling outcast whose character Famfe hath blasted, a 
being such as the universal worlds within its wide ex- 
panse, hath not his fellow:" 

After Venus had said the above words, and kissed 
Cupid long and tenderly, she hied her to the nearest 
shores of the ebbing and flowing sea. And now behold 
her brushing, with rosy feet, the dew from the top- 



Book IV. FIFTH EPISODE. 137 

most surface of tlie water, and presently seated on a 
liquid mountain of the profound ocean, whither the 
powers of the deep, anticipating her half engendered 
wish, and obedient to her call, as if it were a command 
of long ago, arrive to do homage. First came the 
daughters of Nereus singing in chorus, followed by the 
rough blue-bearded god Neptune, with his spouse, half 
fish half woman, the full-bosomed Salacia, and their 
charioteer, the little Pal^mon, careering on the back 
of a dolphin, while in front, astern, and round about, 
hosts of Tritons furrowed the broad briny waste. Thus 
did the cortege that waited upon Venus proceed to the 
palace of Oceanus, while one with a sonorous shell 
sounded a pleasing melody, another shaded his mistress 
from the noxious effects of the sun's burning rays with 
a silken mantle, a third bore a looking-glass, which, to 
reflect her form, he held aloft before her eyes, and the 
remainder dived in sport beneath her two-yoked car. 

Psyche, despite of her matchless loveliness, reaped 
not the mortal fruit of her beauty. Eulogised beyond 
measure, and gazed at unceasingly, no suitor notwith- 
standing, either royal, noble, or plebeian, came to claim 
her hand in marriage. For her beauty was rather re- 
garded as of a divine nature j or as the polished marble 
of a sculptor's statue. But her elder sisters, whose 
more moderate charms fame had not so spread abroad 
among people and nations, long since had kings for 
their husbands and were happily wedded. Thus the 
deserted Psyche, sick at heart, and faint in body, sat 



138 FIFTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

at home pining in widowed virginity, and, — lamenting 
those very allurements that fascinated all the world be- 
side, — lived hateful to herself. 

And now the wretched father of a still more unhappy 
daughter, suspicious of the enmity of the Celestials, 
and di'eading their anger, forthwith betook himself to 
Miletus to consult the most ancient oracle of Apollo, 
and there, conciliating their wrath with prayers and by 
the sacrifice of victims, he besought of the great divinity 
a spouse for the melancholy virgin. Whereupon Apollo 
gave a reply accordingly, which, though by right of his 
son who built Miletus, he was properly a Greek and 
Ionian, was delivered nevertheless in the Latin lan- 
guage, to the following effect : — 

" With funeral pomp along the mountain's side 
Bid the procession move : there leave the bride, 
The tender Psyche, sad devoted maid, 
On jonder rock in bridal dress array'd. 
Nor hope a bridegroom mortal like thyself ; 
But eke a wicked, cruel, viprous elf. 
Who terrifies the gods with flames, and darts 
That penetrate and wound immortal hearts, 
Who o'er all nature bears puissant sway, 
And wings his course beyond the realms of day, 
While at his step each Stygian wave recoils. 
And mighty Jove himself shrinks cow'ring in his toils." 

The King listened with sorrow to the holy prophetic 
announcement! His countenance became sad and 
gloomy; happiness and joy iled from his heart, as 
with feeble steps and listless gait he wended his way 



Book IV. FIFTH EPISODE. 139 

back to his kingdom, and communicated to the Queen, 
his spouse, the ominous sentence of the oracle. And 
now behold, the weeping and mourning within the 
palace continued several days, till at last, when dire ne- 
cessity compelled the fulfilment of the divine command, 
the fatal ceremonial was enacted, and the procession of 
the deadly nuptials arranged in order. A funeral dirge 
and bitter lamentations were substituted for the nup- 
tial song ; the pipes, instead of a hymeneal strain, 
sounded a plaintive Lydian melody; and as Psyche 
wiped the tears from her cheeks with the bridal veil, a 
black sooty dross overspread the flame of the torches 
and obscured their light. But Psyche, — though all the 
citizens commiserated her fate and the fate of her un- 
happy relatives, and though they had closed the public 
courts and courts of law in token of their sympathy, — 
conscious of the necessity of obedience to the celestial 
mandate, anticipated with courageous resolution her des- 
tined ordeal, and bade the procession, accompanied by 
the entire population of the city, proceed to its desti- 
nation. Then when the joint solemnities of a marriage 
and a burial were ready to be impressively performed — 
when a living being was about to be devoted to the 
tomb, and Psyche laid, not upon the bridal couch, 
but upon her bier, and while her parents, overwhelmed 
with grief at the awful scene, stood aghast and hesi- 
tating, the damsel herself addressed to them the fol- 
lowing exhortation : — 

" Wliy do ye weep thus continually? Why thu? 



140 FIFTH EPISODE. Book IV. 

torment your old age ? Why waste your breath, more 
dear to me than mine own, with repeated cries ? Why 
tear your white hair ? Why beat your revered bosoms ? 
Why let vain hopeless tears deform your vene- 
rable cheeks ? Why cast upon me those heart-breaking 
thrilling looks? Are such demonstrations the re- 
ward of my egregious beauty ? Too late, alas ! now 
do ye perceive yourselves stricken by the deadly shaft 
of envy. Long, long ago, when the people and na- 
tions were paying me divine honours, and calling me 
the new born Venus, should ye have wept and 
lamented; The name of Venus, full surely I see and 
feel, hath brought me to perish. Away, then, to the 
rock! To the spot where fate ordains, thither lead 
me ! Haste, haste ! I say, to my auspicious nuptials. 
Away to my noble bridegroom I Wherefore should I 
decline to meet a spouse born not only for mine but for 
all the world's destruction ?" 

When Psyche had pronounced the above words, she 
took her place in the procession, and with firm, 
unfaltering step proceeded among the ranks of the vast 
population to the appointed lofty rock on the mountain, 
where, upon its topmost summit, the multitude, extin- 
guishing the lighted torches with their tears, abandoned 
the devoted damsel, and left her alone. Then, the 
ceremony at an end, the people, reclining their heads 
on their bosoms, returned to their homes, and the 
wretched parents, overcome by grief and weariness, 
closed the windows and doors of their palace, and aban- 



4 



I 



Book IV. FIFTH EPISODE. 141 

doned themselves to darkness and despair. Scarcely, 
however, had they departed, when, as Psyche, timid 
and solitary, lay weeping and trembling on the verge 
of the rock, the mild breath of Zephyr blowed a gentle 
breeze, that inspired with a tremulous motion her in- 
flated garments, and, tenderly lifting her adown the 
mountain height, laid her on the flowery lap of the 
valley below. 



142 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V 



BOOK V. 

Continuation of Fifth Episode. — Cupid and Psyche. 

Psyche, reclining on a bed of dewy grass^ and delighted 
by the fragrance of the soft tender herbage, was relieved 
from her agitation of mind by a sound sweet sleep, from 
which she presently awoke refreshed both in body and 
spirit. Immediately on awaking she saw before her 
a grove of large very tall trees, and in the midst of the 
grove was a fountain whose waters were clear as crystal. 
A little way from the fountain stood a palace — a palace 
not formed by human hands, but reared by skill divine, 
such, reader, as, hadst thou entered it, thou wouldst at 
once have pronounced the beautiful and charming abode 
of some deity. The lofty ceilings, supported by golden 
columns, were curiously wrought with citron wood and 
ivory, and the walls that met the eye of the spectator 
coming within were encrusted with silver, whereon, in 
bass relief, or chased engraving, were wild beasts and 
various domestic cattle, represented with such subtle 
perfection of art, that nought but a god, or a demigod, 
or man inspired by a miracle, could have imagined the 
numberless variety of ferine forms moulded from the 
precious metal. The pavements also were ornamented 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. i4S 

with an infinite diversity of pictures in mosaic, com- 
posed of precious stones ; and happy, oh happy, were 
the possessors of similar treasures, could they, as here, 
always trample their splendid gems and necklaces under 
their feet. 

The rest of this spacious extensive palace was alike 
precious beyond measure, and the walls of the chambers, 
of the portico, nay, even of the very baths, were so 
covered with glittering masses of gold, that the objects 
shone, as it were, in defiance of the sun, by the light of 
their own created day. Truly, so abundantly divine 
and boundless was the wealth displayed everywhere, 
that one might have imagined great Jove himself were 
the fabricator of a domicile to commune with the chil- 
dren of men. 

Psyche, overcome with delight and wonder at the 
sight of such a lovely locality, began to advance a little 
nearer to the building, and gaining confidence by little 
and little, and by slow degrees, at last ventured to over- 
step the threshold. Impelled by irresistible curiosity 
and fascinated by the charming spectacle, she gazed, 
and admired, and examined all she saw before her, be- 
holding, with infinite astonishment, the heaps of untold 
treasure, treasure of every sort, that lay strewed on 
the ground all the way she went, as she wandered to 
the nethermost portion of the apartments of the divine 
architect. In fact, there exists nothing valuable under 
the sun that was not there. But while she continued 
to admire such indescribable riches, the riches, as it 



\/ 



144 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

were, of the universal world all lying together, one 
circumstance surprised her and wrapped her mind 
in wonder more than every thing. There was no 
guard, animate nor inanimate ; neither man, nor chain, 
nor lock, nor bar, nor bolt, nor defence of any 
kind whatever. And now, while the wondering and 
delighted damsel stood lost in mute amazement at the 
scene before her, her attention was suddenly arrested 
by the sound of a human voice, which, as a creature 
divested of bodily form, thus addressed her : — 

« Why, mistress, art thou surprised ? All the wealth 
thou seest before thee is thine own. Lo, yonder is thy 
bedchamber ; hie thee thither ; refresh thy limbs with 
rest, and when thou art willing, call for thy bath, and 
we, thine handmaidens, whose voices thou now hearest, 
will wait upon thee diligently, and dress thee, and 
prepare thee a royal banquet speedily." 

Psyche felt inspired by the blessing of Divine Pro- 
vidence, and, obedient to the insubstantial voices that 
she heard, first invoked the aid ©f sleep to relieve her 
fatigue, and was afterwards refreshed by a bath. When 
she had bathed and dressed, she proceeded to the cham- 
ber adjoining, where, at the farther end of the room, 
was a hemicycle, and within the hemicycle a table laid 
out with all the utensils appropriate for a banquet. Per- 
ceiving the preparations were intended especially for i 
herself, she reclined upon an elevated couch close to '' 
the table, where no sooner had she placed herself, than 
simultaneously abundance of dainty dishes and necta- i\ 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 145 

rean wines in copious variety appeared before her eyes, 
and, as it were, impelled by spiritual impulse, with- 
out the aid of human hands, were laid upon the table. 
Neither was a single human being to be seen. Her 
servants, whose words were heard continually falling 
from invisible lips, were only voices. The banquet was 
delicious. After it was over, a man's voice sang of 
its own accord, while a musician, alike invisible, played 
an accompaniment upon the harp with masculine 
energy. Then the- modulated harmony of a multitude 
of voices sounded in her ears, and though no human 
being, neither man nor woman, was to be seen, com- 
pleted a full chorus. 

At last the enchanting music ceased, and the even- 
ing having already far advanced. Psyche had retired to 
rest, when, at the dead of night, a gentle murmuring 
sound fell upon her ears, and not only terrified her the 
more because she was all alone in the dark and could 
see nothing at all, but because people ignorant of the 
object of their fear are invariably the most alarmed. 
Before the dawn of day, the invisible spouse of Psyche 
had left her and fled far away, and the voices as before 
came to render homage to their mistress and hail 
the new made bride. 

Novelty, as usual under similar circumstances, was 
now the joy of her life, and the sound of the invisible 
voices the solace of her solitude. Her parents, mean- 
' while, bowed down by age and excessive grief, con- 
fined themselves to their palace, whither her elder 

H 



146 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

sisters, hearing of lier disappearance from tlie rock, and 
leaving their liomes with anxious dismal coimtenances, 
respectively betook themselves with the utmost haste 
and eagerness, to visit and consult them. On the 
night of that eventful day did the invisible husband 
of Psyche thus address her : 

*' Dearest wife, sweetest, sweetest Psyche, fortune 
hath a grievous peril in store which it behoves thee 
most vigilantly to guard against. The report of thy 
death hath reached the ears of thy sisters, and speedily 
will they repair to the rock whence I brought thee to 
seek tidings of thy fate. If therefore the sound of 
lamentations coming from that quarter strike upon thine 
ears, give no reply, — no, nor even dare to bend thine 
eyes towards the spot. Fail not to do as I warn thee ; 
if thou dost otherwise, 'twill bring a grievous sorrow 
upon me and be destruction to thyself." 

Psyche immediately promised to do all he required ; 
but when the night had passed away, and he had dis- 
appeared as usual, she wasted the whole of the en- 
suing day in tears, lamenting to herself over and over 
again her bereavement from human conversation, and 
commiserating the grief of her sisters whom she herself 
was unable to help, and, a prisoner though in a splen- 
did palace, was forbidden to see. Finally she would 
neither eat, nor bathe, nor amuse herself at all, but 
the whole entire day she did nothing but cry, cried 
on till night, cried herself to sleep, and even after 
she was asleep still continued to cry till she was 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 147 

awakened by her husband, who, that particular night, 
happened to come by chance earlier than usual. Then 
did her husband tenderly embrace her, and expostulate 
as follows : — 

" Is this the way. Psyche, of performing thy pro- 
mise? Is this what I, thy husband, have to expect 
from thee? Wilt thou never cease, neither by day 
nor by night, to torment thyself and sadden even the 
very hours when I am with thee ? Nay, do then as 
thou wilt ; follow the baneful dictates of thy inclina- 
tion. Albeit remember what now I tell thee — full 
soon, alas! wilt thou repent, and then too late, the 
serious admonition I gave thee." 

Psyche nevertheless persisted in her supplications 
in spite of the above remonstrances, till, by violent 
entreaties and actually threatening to put an end to 
her life in case of a refusal, she extbrted her hus- 
band's compliance to her wishes, and not only obtained 
his consent to see her sisters, and do all in her power 
to soothe their sorrow, but gained permission to make 
them as many handsome presents of golden ornaments 
and necklaces as she thought proper. But he strictly 
enjoined her — and repeated the injunction often, till 
he made her tremble — to keep the invisibility of his 
form a profound secret, lest, by yielding to a sacrile- 
gious curiosity, she might voluntarily cast herself from 
the pinnacle of her present good fortune, and be torn 
from his embraces for ever. 

Psyche had no sooner expressed her grateful thanks 

H 2 



148 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

than her heart recovered its buoyancy. " Sweetest 
husband," said she, " an hundred deaths would I die 
rather than part from thee. More dear to me art thou 
than my life ; nay, whoever thou art, even wert thou 
Cupid's self, not more tenderly could I love thee. 
Yet one thing more, I beseech thee, grant me, dear, 
dear spouse, sweet soul of thy Psyche. Bid Zephyr, 
thy servant who bore me to thee, bring liither also my 
sisters in the same airy vehicle." 

To the latter request her husband, overcome with 
tenderness, consented unwillingly, and after promising 
to comply with everything she demanded, vanished 
from her arms before daybreak. 

Meanwhile the sisters of Psyche made aU possible haste 
to ascend the mountain and reach that part of the rock 
where she had been left alone. There they wept and la- 
mented, and beat their bosoms, and called aloud to their 
lost sister by her proper name, till the continuous sound 
of their wailings, echoed and re-echoed by the surround- 
ing crags and cliffs, penetrated through downward space 
to the valley below and fell on the ears of Psyche. 

Psyche, at the well known sound of her sisters' 
voices, trembled violently, and running out of the 
palace in a state of delirious agitation, " Whence these 
doleful lamentations?" exclaimed she, " why thus need- 
lessly afflict yourselves ? Here, here am I whom ye 
mourn. Cease then the dismal sounds; for now at 
last ye may embrace her for whom those tears have 
flowed so long and incessantly." 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 149 

No sooner had slie thus expressed herself than, 
according to her husband's directions, Psyche sum- 
moned Zephyr to her presence, and giving him his 
orders, Zephyr submitted willingly to her authority, 
and without a moment's delay, a gentle breeze lifted 
her sisters from the rock, and wafted them safely to 
the valley. 

Many now were the moments passed in mutual en- 
dearments which were continued till tears, repressed 
for a considerable period, burst forth anew from joy. 
At length said Psyche, " Come now, my sisters ; cheer 
up your afflicted spirits, and recreate yourselves awhile 
within our dwelhng." Then, without more ado, she led 
them into her golden house, showed them the vast trea- 
sures it contained, and allowed them to hear the voices 
of her numerous obedient family of servants. Then 
she conducted them to a most beautiful bath, and re- 
freshed them by the delicacies of a divine banquet, till, 
satiated with copious abundance of celestial viands, 
envy was generated in the lowest depths of their bo- 
soins, and one especially inquisitively inquiring parti- 
culars of her husband, the lord and master of such 
boundless wealth, demanded incessantly what manner 
of man he was, who, and whence he came. But 
Psyche, mindful of his injunctions, refraiaed from vio- 
lating her promise, and preserved the secret of her 
bosom ; but, feigning a tale for the occasion, said he was 
young and handsome, a youth who passed his time 
among the mountains in rural occupations and hunting, 



150 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V, 

and whose cheeks were newly shadowed by a beard 
like the fleece of a new born lamb. Then, fearing lest, 
she might further betray her trust in case the conver- 
sation were protracted, she once more summoned 
Zephyr to her presence, and presenting her sisters 
with a copious variety of jewels, necklaces, and golden 
ornaments, bade him transport them back again to the 
rock whence they came. 

No sooner was the command given than it was exe- 
cuted, and these two ungrateful sisters, whose hearts 
were burning with envy more and more, thus conversed 
together as they returned towards their homes. One, 
after a considerable period of silence, began by saying 
to the other, " Oh wicked, cruel Fortune ! truly indeed 
do people say that thou art blind ! Sister, canst thou 
bear that we, the eldest, sustain a destiny so different 
from hers, and yet are born of the same parents as her- 
self ? Shall we, married to foreign husbandsj their 
servants rather than their wives, live abroad in a 
strange country far away from our parents, while our 
youngest sister has a god for her husband, and enjoys 
such boundless wealth that she knows not how to make 
use of what she hath ? Didst thou not see, sister, the 
number and beauty of the necklaces lying every where 
about the house ? — the splendid dresses, the brilliant 
jewels, and the ornaments of gold that, wherever we 
went, we trod under our feet ? Truly if her husband 
be handsome as she describes him, no happier crea- 
ture is there in the whole wide world than she. Aye. 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 151 

and tMs husband-god of hers, so soon as continued 
.acquaintance and conversation strengthen his affection, 
may peradventure transform her into a goddess. A 
goddess ! By Hercuk's, and so, according to her lofty 
bearing, she already fancies herself; for needs must the 
woman who hath unearthly voices for her attendants, 
and can command the very winds, breathe the immor- 
tal aspirations of a goddess. But, woe is me ! I am 
wedded to a husband who, in age older than my father, 
and in size a dwarf not taller than a boy, with a head 
^ bald as a pumpkin, keeps the house close fastened 
with bolts and chains all the day long." 

" Well, sister, mayst thou say what thou hast said," 
replied the other, " though, for my part, my lot is no 
better than thine. My husband, forsooth, is bent 
double with age, and the gout hath -so crippled his 
joints that my duties rather than the duties of a wife 
are those of a laborious nurse, to rub his crooked 
fingers indurated with chalk-stones, and scald these 
delicate hands with nasty fomentations and cata- 
plasms. But 'tis thou thyself, sister, not I, who sub- 
mits to all these indignities with a patient, aye, and, — 
suffer me to speak out freely and say what I think, — a 
servile spirit. I, forsooth, bear to sustain so different 
a destiny ! Why it tortures me even to think of good 
fortune so unworthily bestowed, and I can sustain it 
no longer. Bethink thee of the haughtiness and arro- 
gance of her behaviour, how ostentatiously she boasted 
of her wealth, and how she betrayed her pride of heart 



152 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

in every gesture. Then the trifling things she selected 

for us out of her incalculable treasure, how ungra- 
ciously she tossed, as it were, the articles into our laps, 
and how, getting speedily tired of us, we were pro- 
pelled, or pufled, or hissed away. But, as I hope to 
live and am a woman, I'll knock her off her lofty perch 
ere long — aye, upset her from the pinnacle of all these 
riches. As for thee, if thou canst feel as 'tis meet 
thou should, the contumely offered to thy sister, why 
thou wilt join thy force to mine in valid counsel, and 
we will cooperate together. Meanwhile let us not 
show the jewels we carry with us to any human being, 
no, not even to our parents ; neither let us appear to 
know that our sister is alive ; for truly we who have 
witnessed a spectacle sufficiently grievous to ourselves, 
will not be the heralds of her good fortune. On the 
contrary she shall know that riches, apart from the 
cognizance of the world, yield not happiness to the 
possessor ; aye, and shall feel, moreover, that as well as 
incorporeal handmaidens, she hath also elder sisters. 
But now let us away to our husbands, and there, when 
we resume our conversation, in our own poor quiet 
dwellings, and have time for cool reflection, we shaE 
be better provided with a plan for humbling her pride 
than at present." 

ISuch were the wicked purposes designed by these 
two bad women and applauded by their evil nature. 
Accordingly, concealing all the valuable presents they 
had received, they went first to their parents, where, 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 153 

tearing their hair and beating their faces, as in truth 
they richly deserved in good earnest, they pretended to 
weep and bewail the loss of their sister, and feigned the 
appearance of real grief so well that the wounded hearts 
of the poor old people were burst open afresh, and all 
their recent unhappiness was renewed as keen as ever. 
But no sooner had they thus been the cause of all this 
sorrow to the aged pair than, bloated with malicious 
rage, they deserted them in a hurry, and plotting in- 
sidious, aye murderous schemes against their guiltless 
sister, they hastened to their homes. 

Thus were circumstances proceeding in the dwell- 
ings of the elder sisters, when, at one of the nocturnal 
conferences of Psyche with her unknown husband, he 
addressed her in terms of admonition as follows : — * 

" Behold how the skirmishers of thy evil fortune 
are already advancing towards thee ! Alas ! how great 
the danger, that, unless avoided by firmness and ex- 
treme precaution, will confront thee hand to hand ! 
Already are the perfidious she wolves at their endea- 
vours to ensnare thee by various artifices; already 
have they the desire to persuade thee toi view my 
countenance, which, if only once and for a moment 
thou dost behold, never, oh never, wilt thou see again. 
When, therefore, the mischievous vampires actually 
come, — for they will come again, fraught with noxious 
schemes, full well I know, — hold thou no converse 
with them, I charge thee. But, even shouldst thou 
yield thus far through thy natural simplicity of dispo- 

H 3 



154 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

sition and tenderness of heart, then do I at all events 
enjoin thee not to hear or say a single word relating to 

thy husband And yet there is one thing more 

I needs must tell thee. Young as thou artj ere long 
thou wilt bear an infant, which, if thou preserve our 
secret in silence, will be born divine ; if thou profane 
our secret, — MORTAL." 

Psyche was delighted and consoled at this intelli- 
gence. Her eyes sparkled with pleasure. Already, in 
anticipation of a divine offspring, the pledge of future 
glory, she rejoiced in maternal dignity, and, anxiously 
reckoning the intervening months and days, contem- 
plated the coming event in childish ignorance; 

Meanwhile her sisters, those nefarious, pestilential 
Furies, exhaling the poison of vipers from their lips, 
hastened with impious celerity on board ship, and set 
sail to the palace of Psyche, who in due time previously 
was again put on her guard by her husband in one of 
their nightly conversations. And thus during his tem- 
porary, fleeting visit did ne address her : — 

" The day of trial hath arrived ; the bitter calamity 
soon will press upon thee. Tliine own sex and thine 
own blood are in arms against thee. The enemy have 
struck their camp, have sounded the trumpet, are on 
their march towards thee. The hands of thy sisters 
direct the sword's point at thy throat. Alas, darling 
Psyche ! b}' what dangers are we surrounded ! Take 
pity on thyself! Have pity upon me, and preserve 
steadfast religious silence. Save thy husband, save 



Book V. . FIFTH EPISODE. 155 

thyself* save our infant offspring from impending de- 
struction. Neither see nor listen to a word from thy 
sisters, I implore thee. Sisters ? No ! those profligate 
women, after the deadly hatred they have shown thee, 
after trampling under foot the ties of kindred, are 
no longer thy sisters. Listen to them not, I say. 
No ! though like syrens they utter their cries from 
the rock till the surrounding heights ring with the 
sound of their lamentations." 

Psyche, while tears and sobs choked her utterance, 
notwithstanding the above address of her spouse, re- 
plied in broken sentences as follows : — " Have not I 
given thee already proof of my fidelity ? Dost thou 
not know I can keep thy secret? Wherefore, then, 
shouldst thou fear to test e'en now once again my 
firmness and constancy? Once more, then, I be- 
seech thee, give thy orders to Zephyr ; once more let 
Zephyr fulfil his duty ; once more let me see my sis- 
ters. Eecreate the heart of thy Psyche with one, only 
one more interview. I implore thee by those locks 
that, fragrant with perfume, hang about thy neck ; by 
thy cheeks, tender and smooth as my own; by thy 
bosom glowing, if not with immortal fire, with warmth 
incomprehensible. Grant me, then, oh grant me the 
boon I ask, and let Psyche, thy dear devoted Psyche, 
embrace her sisters for the last time. The sight of 
thine own revered countenance is, alas ! denied her — 
that countenance which, one day at least, in the face of 
a darling infant^ will she surely beholds Then, then 



156 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

indeed, will she truly see thee, thee that art even now 
the light of her eyes in this nocturnal darkness." 

The husband of Psyche, overcome and enchanted by 
her fascinating endearments, granted the utmost of her 
request, and, anticipating the light of the coming dawn, 
brushed the tears from her eyes with his curly locks, 
and fled away. 

Meanwhile her sisters, linked together, as it were, 
in the yoke of sisterly conspiracy, left their homes once 
more in precipitate haste, without even giving their 
parents notice of their departure. So soon as their ship 
approached the shore, they hurried from the vessel to 
the rock. Thence, with the ungovernable rashness of 
over confidence, they flung themselves at once head- 
long over the precipice, without awaiting for a moment 
the presence of the buoyant breeze ; but Zephyr, ever 
mindful of the divine mandate, supported them ori a 
passing puff" of air, and, though unwillingly, laid them 
on the ground in safety. With rapid steps, and without 
a moment's delay, they went to the palace of Psyche, 
whom, with joyful countenances that concealed a world 
of treachery, they embraced earnestly ; while one, simu- 
lating a sister's tenderness, thus addressed their vic- 
tim : — " Oh, Psyche ! how inexpressible is the delight 
thou hast in store for us ! For truly by thy altered 
appearance do I perceive thou art about to become a 
mother. Wliat infinite joy and happiness wilt thou 
confer on thy whole family 1 How delighted shall we 
be to nurse the charming dear baby, which, if it be like 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 157 

its parents, and so no doubt it will be, will surely be as 
beautiful as a little Cupid !" 

In this manner they continued for some time, by a 
false display of affection, to gain the heart of their sister 
more and more, while she, after they had been seated 
for a while, and had recovered a little from their fatigue, 
ordered, as before, baths with heated water to be pre- 
pared, also splendid couches to recline on after bathing ; 
and, lastly, a banquet composed of innumerable exqui- 
site delicacies to be laid before them. When the ban- 
quet was over. Psyche commanded her invisible attend- 
ants to sound the harp, and a harp was immediately 
sounded, — to play on the pipe, and a pipe was played, 
— to sing in concert, and the air resounded with the 
melody of a host of harmonious voices that soothed the 
hearts of the hearers with the most enchanting music, 
though not a creature was to be seen. But neither had 
the harmony of the voices nor of the instrumental 
music sufficient power of fascination to soften the hard 
hearts of those two sorceresses, or bend their minds 
from their preconcerted scheme. Accordingly they 
began immediately to lead her towards the snare by 
turning the conversation to the subject of her husband, 
and treacherously to make inquiries about his parentage 
and condition. Psyche meanwhile, through the ex- 
treme simplicity of her nature, forgetful of the account 
she had given before, and inventing an entirely new 
story for the occasion, now replied, in answer to the 
interrogations of her sisters, that her husband was a 



158 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

native of the adjoining province, a person of middle 
age, whose hair was beginning to be sprinkled with 
gray. She added that he was a merchant engaged in 
very large commercial transactions. Having so said, 
unwilling, as in the former instance, to dwell longer 
on the conversation, she now loaded her sisters with 
splendid presents, and consigned them to their windy 
vehicle. 

While, borne aloft and propelled by Zephyr's gentle 
breath, they were steadily floating towards their homeSj 
the following conversation passed between them : 

" The silly creature!" exclaimed one, *' didst thou 
not perceive, sister, the monstrous lie she told us? 
Firstj said she, ' he is a young man with a soft downy 
beard just beginning to grow;' and now, forsooth, he 
hath become of middle age, with a few glittering sih-er 
hairs among his locks. Why, what manner of man can 
her husband be, thus to have grown old on a sudden ? 
Depend on it, she has either invented the lie or has 
never seen him. No matter, we must, in the first place, 
utterly deprive her of her riches as soon as possible, 
whichever be the truth — although, forsooth, if indeed 
she hath never seen her husband, she hath surely 
wedded a god, and a god will be her offspring, which 
heaven forbid ! Nay, were a divine infant to be born 
of her, I should hang myself most Assuredly the mo- 
ment it saw daylight. But for the present we will go 
home to our parents, and there consider farther what 
had better be done on the subject we talked of before." 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 159 

Thus did tlie sisters continue to converse together 
until they arrived at the dwelling of their early home, 
when they were wrought to such a pitch of angry fury, 
that they would scarcely deign to look at their parents ; 
and after they went to rest, they lay tumbling and toss- 
ing all night in bed till morning. - So soon as it was 
dawn of day they arose immediately, and setting forth 
by a similar voyage as before, back again to the rock, 
they threw themselves once more off the precipice, and 
once more, by the kindly aid of Zephyr, though rather 
roughly handled on the descent by a violent blast of 
wind, were deposited safely on the ground. 

Thence again they hastened to Psyche's habitation^ 
and having arrived there ^ and, by violent pressure of 
their eyelids, squeezed out a few deceitful tears, one 
thus addressed her i — " Oh, Psyche, what a happy 
blessed state of ignotance art thou in! How tran- 
quilly, forsooth, dost thou sit here at thy home, un- 
aware of thy danger, while we, thy vigilant guardians, 
anxious in everything that concerns thee, are in terror 
at thy perilous predicament! We have heard then 
for a truth — and as 'tis our duty to be thy partners 
in sorrow and misfortune, we durst not conceal it from 
thee — that thou art wedded to nothing more nor less 
than a great serpent, a hideous, many-folded, gaping- 
mouthfed monster, with crest dripping noxious poison^ 
tiiat crawls to bed to thee every night. Eecall to thy 
mind for a moment, I beseech thee, the oracle of the 
Pythian Apollo, who promised and foretold thee a 



160 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

cruel viperous creature for tliy bridegroom ; and observe, 
moreover, that 'tis no wild fancy of our own that I re- 
late, for the hunters and husbandmen in the vicinity 
have actually seen the serpent I tell thee of, every 
evening swimming across the shoals of the adjacent 
river, after his feeding-time. Neither is it for nought, 
say they, thou art nourished here so sumptuously, 
nor for other purpose than to make thee a more 
dainty morsel for thy monster husband, who, so soon 
as thou art properly plump and fat, will certainly de- 
vour thee. With thyself, then, rests the choice at pre- 
sent, whether to believe what we, thy sisters, now tell 
thee, and preserve thy life by living with us, free from 
all manner of danger, or whether you prefer to be 
buried deep in the bowels of a truculent monster. So if 
the charms of vocal solitude in this beautiful valley, 
and the fascinating allurements of a horrible venomous 
serpent, incline thee to remain where thou art, at least 
we, thy loving sisters, will have done our duty towards 
thee." 

The simple-minded, tender-hearted, unhappy Psyche 
was altogether overwhelmed with fear at this shocking 
recital ; and being for the moment bereft of her senses, 
forgot all her husband's admonitions and her own pro- 
mises, and precipitated herself at once into the lowest 
ahyss of misfortune. Accordingly the blood fled from 
her cheeks, her face was overspread with a livid pale- 
ness, and she trembled violently, while she thus ad- 
dressed her sisters, in a voice half extinct from want of 



bookv. fifth episode. 161 

breatli, and incapable of uttering three words consecu-- 
tively : " Dearest sisters," said she, " I know you have 
acted towards me as you ought, and have done no 
more than perform a pious duty; neither, methinks, 
are the people who have related the story altogether the 
inventors of a falsehood. To confess the truth, never 
have I yet, even for a moment, seen the face of my 
husband, nor do I know his family. I hear, indeed, 
the sound of his voice, when he talks to me at night 
in an undertone ; but I am obliged to bear with his 
fancies, and, for everything else that relates to him, am 
in a state of ignorance. This I know too truly, that 
he has a terrible aversion to daylight, and rejoices in 
darkness. For every morning, before early dawn, he 
flies away from me. He may indeed, if not actually the 
creature you describe, be at least a winged animal. 
Besides, he has strictly warned me — nay, terrified me — 
from the thought of ever beholding Ms countenance, 
which if I ever do cast my eyes upon, some dire ca- 
lamity, he said, will surely befal me. Desert not your 
sister, then, in the present crisis, but, lest all your 
former vigilance be rendered useless by an unseasonable 
act of negligence, render all the assistance in your 
power to extricate her from danger." 

When Psyche had done speaking, the two wicked 
women, perceiving 'they had made a breach in her 
heart, and that her inmost thoughts lay naked and 
exposed, treacherously sallied forth, as it were, from 
their ambuscade, and drawing the sword of deceit 



162 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

from the scabbard, assailed her simple^ wavering mind. 
Then, accordingly, one addressed her as follows :— 
' Smce, under the present emergency, when thy life is at 
stake, the bonds of kindred compel ns to have no regard to 
our own peril, I will explain to thee a manner of act- 
ing, which, as both of us have reflected on it long and 
maturely^ we think the only possible mode of securing 
thy safety. Provide thyself with a knife, sharp as a 
razor, — which 'twere better, in order to render the 
edge still more acute, to pass along the palm of thy 
hand, — and also with a lamp, well trimmed, full of oil, 
and a shade covering the bright light of the flame. 
Conceal both the knife and the lamp under thy 
bed, on the side where thou art accustomed to lie, 
until the serpent hath entered the apartment, glided 
into bed as usual, and stretching himself out at length, 
hath begun to breathe audibly, under the impulse of 
the first sound sleep. Delay not then for an instant 
to slide out of bed, and on bare feet and tip -toe, 
with a soft, gentle step, go, free the lamp from its hid- 
ing-place in the dark, and, with its light to help 
thee to execute thy noble purpose, courageously ele- 
vate thy right hand, and, with as vigorous an efibrt as 
thy strength can command, divide the noxious serpent's 
vertebrae at the nape of his neck, and completely cut off 
his head. Fear not that we shall leave thee alone 
without assistance in thy enterprise ; for the moment 
thou hast killed the serpent, and secured thine own 
safety, we will speedily be with thee, help thee to 



I 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 163 

remove thy treasure, and wed thee to another mortal, 
human creature, like thyself." 

When the sisters of Psyche had wrought upon and 
inflamed her mind to a sufficient pitch of determina- 
tion, they deserted her immediately, for they were 
afraid to be present during the perpetration of the deed 
they themselves had suggested, notwithstanding the 
promise they had given to remain on the spot and 
render their assistance. Accordingly, confiding them- 
selves as usual to the wings of the wind, they were 
conveyed aloft and laid upon the rock^ whence they 
hurried with impetuous haste on foot to the sea-shore, 
and sailed homewards in their vessel. Meanwhile 
Psyche being now by herself and solitary, if one whose 
heart is agitated by the cruel furies can be said to be 
alone, was tormented by a host of conflicting passions, 
and her bosom heaved like the surface of the ocean. 
Though her design was fixed, and her mind reso- 
lute, yet so soon as she began to think in earnest of 
what she was going to do, she shrunk appalled by her 
unliappy fate, and was distracted by doubt and hesita- 
tion.- Hurrying and procrastinating by turns, at one 
moment rash, at another tremulous, sometimes diffident, 
sometimes irascible, there was one pervading sentiment 
notwithstanding, that continually regulated her heart. 
In spite of the biiter hatred she felt towards the 
beast, she persisted to love the husband. 

At last night arrived, and Psyche having already 
prepared all the necessary apparatus, her husband came 



164 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

as usual. And now lie was overwhelmed with sound 
sleep, when Psyche, whose heart the influence of fate 
had steeled to the performance of the deed, though at 
other times feeble in body and infirm in purpose, 
feeling now her strength invigorated, and her natural 
feminine weakness replaced by masculine courage, un- 
covered the lamp and grasped the knife in her hand. 
But no sooner were the mysteries of the chamber illu- 
minated by the first rays of light, than she beheld the 
very gentlest and sweetest of all the wild beasts that 
ever were seen in the world — the beautiful God of 
Love, Cupid himself — softly, soundly sleeping. 

The lamp in her hand, in the presence of the lovely 
spectacle, shone with exhilarated brightness, and the 
sacrilegious knife repented the keenness of its edge, 
while Psyche, astonished at the wondrous vision, 
dropped on her knees in a fright, and, pale and trem- 
bling, had well nigh buried the blade in her own 
bosom in her eagerness to conceal it, had not the wea- 
pon itself leaped voluntarily from the rash hand that 
held it, in horror of committing the crime. But as 
she continued to view the divine beauty of Cupid's 
coimtenance her faint sick heart became refreshed by 
degrees, and after a while she gazed with delight on 
the luxuriant golden hair that, teeming with ambrosial 
perfume, hung in curls over his forehead and shoulders, 
and shone with a gloss so brilliant that the dazzled 
flame of the lamp quivered from the reflection. His 
cheeks were the colour of the rose, his neck white as 



1 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 165 

milk, and from the shoulders of the god grew a pair of 
wings, the tender, delicate, downy points of whose 
white dewy feathers were tremulously wafted up and 
down as it were in wanton sport, notwithstanding that 
the pinions rested in repose upon a body that, tran- 
scendantly beautiful and smooth, displayed the loveli- 
ness of Venus herself in the person of her ojffspring. 

At last Psyche all of a sudden espied lying at the 
foot of the bed on the ground a bow and a quiver full 
of arrows, the auspicious arms of the most powerful 
of deities, and, seized with admiration and insatiable 
curiosity to touch her husband's weapons, she drew 
one of the arrows out of the quiver and began to feel 
and examine it. Accordingly the point gently pressed 
upon her thumb, inflicting a tiny puncture from the 
tremulous movement of the joint, a minute atom of 
blood, like a dew-drop, started to the surface of the 
skin, and the simple Psyche, wounded by an arrow of 
the God of Love, became more enamoured than ever. 
Overcome by the sense of her good fortune, and in- 
fatuated more and more every moment, she leant in 
excess of tenderness over the rosy deity, trembling and 
agitated lest she might awake him, till the lamp ele- 
vated in her hand, whether from the genuine envious 
perfidy of its nature, or the desire itself to impress a 
kiss on an object so beautiful, spirted a drop of scald- 
ing oil from the summit of its flame on Cupid's right 
shoulder. 

Oh rash, audacious lamp! love's vile minister^ that 



166 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

surely wert originally invented by some anxious lover 
longing to renew the day in the presence of Ms mis- 
tress, how couldst thou dare to burn the god of mortal 
and immortal fire ? 

Up sprang the scalded deity, and recognising the sad 
tokens of detected infidelity immediately fiew away. 
In silence would he have left the arms of his wretched 
wife and gone clean out of sight, but Psyche, seizing 
him suddenly by the right leg as he arose, ready to 
accompany him at all hazards through the regions of 
the air, held on with both her hands, a miserable ap- 
pendage as it were to his flight, till fatigue compelled 
her to relinquish her hold, and she fell in despair to 
the ground. Meanwhile her divine lover, averse to 
leaving her at once in so abject a position, perched on 
the topmost branch of a cypress tree close by, and an- 
grily addressed her as follows : — " Oh, simple, simple 
Psyche, wherefore did I set at nought the precepts of 
my mother Venus? Wherefore not obey her com- 
mands and inspire thee with a base ignoble passion for 
the lowest, the most degraded being among mortal men ? 
Wherefore did I myself become enamoured and fly to 
thee as thy lover? Wherefore did I, redoubtable 
archer as I am, wound myself with my own weapon 
and make thee my wife ? Full well I know I have 
shown lack of wisdom in giving thee a preference, for 
which, forsooth, as well as for all other kindly acts I have 
done for thee, now thou wouldst repay me by believing 
me to be a serpent, and by taking a knife in thy hand to 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 167 

cut off my Kead. Aye, the very head whose eyes have 
so doated on thee. Fain would I have warned thee 
against this calamity by the admonitions I gave thee, 
and even now will I inflict upon thee no severer pu- 
nishment than to fly away and leave thee. But 
speedily shall thy two wicked counsellors feel the weight 
of my vengeance." 

Cupid, so soon as he had said the above words, threw 
himself into the air upon his pinions, and first mount- 
ing aloft, darted straight away, while Psyche, prostrate 
on the ground, watched the course of his flight and kept 
him in view as long as she was able. But when the 
rapid movement of his wings through the immensity of 
space had alienated him from her sight, she rose hastily 
on her feet, and in the deep afiliction of her heart, 
pouring forth the most bitter lamentations, rushed 
recklessly to an adjacent river, and precipitated her- 
self from the bank into the water. The gentle river, in 
honour and in fear of the god of Love, whose fiery in- 
fluence scorched even the nymphs of the stream and the 
denizens of its waters, wafted her buoyantly towards 
the shore, and one of its obedient waves tossed her 
unhurt and safe upon a tuft of green grass. 

Close to the spot where she lay the rustic Pan was by 
chance amorously reclining beside the goddess Canna, 
instructing her to modulate innumerable pleasing melo- 
dies on vocal reeds. The goat-legged deity, cognizant 
of the misfortune of the fainting heart-stricken Psyche, 
kindly beckoned her to the spot, where, — surrounded by 



168 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

a flock of sportive goats wandering here and there at 
pasture, and clipping as it were the river's locks, — he 
sat resting on its brow, and thus addressed her in the 
following consolatory words : " Notwithstanding I am 
a countryman and a shepherd, pretty damsel, I am come 
to a good old age, and have had much experience under 
various different circumstances ; wherefore if I rightly 
conjecture, and the conjectures of prudent men many 
people call the faculty of divination, — if I rightly con- 
jecture I say, and if I were to judge by thy tottering 
and more frequently irresolute steps, by the excessive 
paleness of thy countenance, and, above all things, by 
the sad expression of thine eyes — thou art in love most 
desperately. I pray thee then listen attentively while 
I give thee some wholesome advice. Think not to 
throw thyself off a precipice, nor to accomplish thy 
own destruction by any means whatsoever, but cast 
away thy sorrow, cheer up thy heart, and offer up thy 
fervent prayers to Cupid, the most potent of all the 
deities, who forsooth, delicate, spoilt stripling as he is, 
must be coaxed and flattered mightily." 

When the shepherd god had ceased to speak. Psyche 
made no reply, but simply doing homage to the pro- 
pitious divinity, passed forward on her Way. She had 
gone only a little distance after her departure, when, 
as she was walking along with toilsome steps, she came 
to a path leading out of the road in a direction she 
knew not whither ; and having by this time completely 
lost her way, she followed the path and continued to 



Boox V. FIFTH EPISODE. 169 

proceed till it brought her to a certain city. Now this 
city happened to be immediately within the verge of 
the dominions of the king who was the husband of one 
of her sisters, and the place where they lived ; upon 
which Psyche, so soon as she became cognizant of the 
circumstance, immediately sent a message to her sister 
to announce her arrival. Accordingly she was speedily 
introduced into her sister's presence, and after they had 
mutually embraced each other, and the forms of saluta- 
tion were over, her sister asked her what was the cause 
that had brought her thither, and Psyche, in answer to 
the interrogative, replied as follows: — " You surely 
cannot have so soon forgotten the advice you gave me,— 
nay, the trouble you took to persuade me to take a knife 
and kill my husband, who, you said, was a beast in dis- 
guise ; a monster that would one day or other engulph 
me in his voracious gullet? Well, I did as we had 
agreed between us. But when the first glare of light 
discovered to me his countenance, I beheld a truly 
wonderful and divine spectacle. Divine I say. Cupid, 
Venus's own son, fast and sound asleep. Astonished 
at the sight of such good fortune, and so over-delighted 
at the prospect of happiness that I knew not what I 
did, a drop of boiling oil fell out of the lamp and, 
by the very worst of all possible bad luck, dropped 
upon his shoulder. The pain instantly awoke him; 
so, starting up accordingly, and seeing me stand- 
ing with the knife in one hand and the lamp in 
the other — ' Away with thee instantly,' said he, ' I 

I 



170 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

divorce tliee from my bed for ever^ Yet, notwith- 
standing tlie horrible crime thou hast committed, take 
with thee what is thine own, and I will marry thy 
sister ' (thee it was that by name he mentioned par- 
ticularly), ' and forthwith have the nuptials celebrated.' 
When he had thus said he immediately summoned 
Zephyr to his presence, and commanded him to bid a 
gale of wind bear me beyond the precincts of the palace." 
When Psyche had finished the above fictitious narra- 
tive, and thus had retaliated for the injury sustained 
from her sister, the latter became violently agitated. 
Koused to fiirious excitement by the noxious stings of 
envy and avarice, she invented a story forthwith to 
deceive the king her husband, saying she had received 
the news of the death of one of her parents, and set 
sail without more ado on her way to the palace of 
Cupid. Hurrying from the ship to the rock with the 
utmost haste, she made a violent leap over the pre- 
cipice, notwithstanding at the time there was blowing 
a wind over which Zephyr had no control. " Oh, 
Cupid!" exclaimed she, gasping with vain hope as she 
sprang from the giddy height, " receive thy worthy 
wife, and Zephyr, do thou acknowledge her thy mis- 
tress." Fate treating her as she deserved, ordained it 
otherwise, and she perished miserably. Neither alive , 
nor dead did she reach the goal of her ambition. Her | 
limbs lay scattered here and there among the crags of 
the rocks ; vultures and the wild beasts of the moun- 
tains preyed on her lacerated bowels. 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 171 

And now after one of the wicked sisters had breathed 
her last, vengeance was not slow to overtake the other. 
When the former left the city of her domicile Psyche 
departed also, and continuing her wandering course, 
arrived in a few days at another city, where in like 
manner the other sister was residing with the king, her 
husband, in his dominions. The other sister, in like 
manner with the first, having interrogated Psyche, and 
Psyche having led her also into the snare by the same 
inveigling reply, she, following the other's example, 
and emulous of becoming the spouse of Cupid and sup- 
planting her younger sister, hurried immediately to the 
rock as the other had done, and there met a similar 
fate. 

While the forlorn Psyche was wandering all over the 
country, thinking of nothing at all in the world than 
how and where to find her husband, and seeking him 
wherever she went, Cupid lay groaning on his mother's 
own bed severely scalded by the boiling oil of the lamp. 
A snow white seagull, the bird that as it floats on the 
waves of the sea flaps its wings upon the water, carried 
the intelligence to Venus, and plunging down precipi- 
tately, approached her just as she had gone to bathe, 
and was swimming on the surface of the ocean. " Thy 
son," said the bird, " is suffering grievously from a 
wound that fire hath inflicted ; his life is in danger. 
Disgrace too hath fallen on thy family, and rumours are 
abroad, and in the mouths of all the people. They say, 
forsooth, that he hath been paying court to a damsel in 

i2 



172 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

the mountains, wliile thou wert away. While thou 
art amusing thyself here swimming in the sea, all the 
world is in confusion during thy absence. Pleasure, 
Ease, and Elegance have fled at thy departure ; mortals 
have grown rude, rustic, and slovenly ; the social and 
conjugal ties of love and aifection are at an end ; parents 
cast chilling glances even on their own children ; men's 
hearts are swayed by a sordid host of uncongenial im- 
pulses. In short, the earth is nought but a bleak desert 
waste without thee." 

Such were the words derogatory to the character of 
the Queen of Love and her son, that the meddling 
loquacious bird chattered in the ear of Venus ; whereat 
she was enraged exceedingly, and immediately replied as 
follows: — ^' Say'st thou that that good son of mine hath 
gotten himself a mistress ? Tell me then. Oh tell me, 
I pray thee, thou who in bringing the news hast ren- 
dered me a loving service, what is her name who hath 
enticed my ingenuous beardless boy ? Is it one of 
the band of Nymphs, or of the number of Hours, or 
of the choir of Muses, or is it, peradventure, one of the 
Grraces that belong to mine own household ?" 

** Eeally, my mistress," replied the bird, " I cannot 
tell thee ; but," — unable to preserve silence owing to 
its extraordinarily talkative disposition, it continued, 
— "I think if I remember right, the damsel, whom he 
loves to distraction, is called Psyche." 

"Psyche?" exclaimed Venus with indignation, " the 
same ambitious wench who hath taken my name and 



Book V. FIFTH EPISODE. 173 

usurped my beauty ? Aye, and forsooth may tliink me 
a go-between, who brought Mm designedly into her 
presence ?" So saying, without a moment's delay, she 
emerged from the sea, and transporting herself to her 
golden chamber with infinite rapidity, found her 
wounded boy lying there sick in bed as had been told 
her. 

Unable to contain her passion, before she passed 
the threshold of the door, she exclaimed, in an ele- 
vated voice, — " Pretty pranks of thine, truly ! Mar- 
vellously fitting to thy birth and character ! First, 
disobey the commands of thy mother, who hath au- 
thority over thee ! Aye, neglect to torment her 
enemy with the pains of a sordid attachment ! And 
next, thou profligate, half-grown stripling, take to 
wife thyself, and give me for a daughter-in-law, the 
creature whom I detest most of all other women in 
the world ! But, conceited fop, odious seducer, 
dost thou think thyself my only noble son ? aye, for- 
sooth, and consider me too old to have another like 
thee ? But I will have another son in spite of thee, 
I 'd have thee to know ; nay, a better son than thou 
art. I will adopt the son of one of my handmaidens ; 
and, the more to vex thee^ I will give him thy wings, 
and thy torch, and thy bow, and every one of those 
arrows of thine that thoU hast misused so scandalously. 
For none of thy equipment dost thou inherit firom thy 
i^ther; but thy accoutrements, and all thou hast, 
belong to me. Even from thy very childhood^ wicked 



174 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

boy as thou art, hast thou had tliine hands full of mis- 
chief, — continually shooting thy darts at thy elders 
most irreverently. Aye, thou hast wounded me, thine 
own mother, once every day and oftener, and paid me 
no more regard than if I were a widow, thou matri- 
cide. Even the bravest of all warriors, thy father-in- 
law, hath not the power to daunt thee ; but thou hast 
frequently led him, too, astray, to my pain and sorrow. 
But, verily, shaltthou repent of all thy tricks, and sour 
and bitter shall be the cup of" pleasure at thy nuptials. 
Let us see, forsooth, how then shall I proceed ? Whi- 
ther, now that I am made a laughing-stock, shall I go 
for counsel ? What means have I to coerce the slippery 
little lizard? Ask assistance of that countrified, 
slovenly dame. Sobriety, who, because on his very 
account I have so often affronted her, is always my 
enemy ? No, I can do no such thing. My flesh creeps 
at the thought of an interview with her. But, yes ! 
sweet is the comfort of vengeance, come whence it 
will ! She, and no other in the universe, will so serve 
my purpose to chastise the little puppy severely, — 
empty his quiver of its arrows, blunt their points, 
unstring his bow, extinguish his torch, and compel him 
to bear the very worst of corporal punishments and 
disagreeable remedies — abstinence. Nor then, even, 
will the injury I have suffered be thoroughly atoned 
for, till I have shorn those shining, golden locks, that 
these hands so oft have sorted, and clipped the wings 
steeped in the nectar of my bosom." 



BookV. fifth episode. 175 

Thus spake the highly irritated goddess, who no 
sooner delivered herself of the violent apostrophe, than, 
turning on her heel in a boiling, bilious rage, she 
forthwith burst out of doors away from her palace. 
There immediately she encountered the two goddesses, 
Ceres and Juno. They, observing that her features 
were swollen, and that her face was flushed with exces- 
sive anger, inquired the reason why her sparkling eyes, 
otherwise so mild and fascinating, were coerced by a 
supercilious frown ? '' Can you be ignorant," exclaimed 
she, " of the stories abroad relating to my family, the 
doings of the youth whom no longer I will call my 
son ? Opportunely, oh ! most opportunely, have you 
come hither to compose my raging bosom, and render 
me assistance to execute a deed of vengeance. Aid 
me, then, I pray you, to discover the retreat of the 
fugitive, wandering Psyche." 

Now, both the above-mentioned goddesses were 
already cognizant of all the events that had happened, 
as above alluded to; but, nevertheless, both being 
anxious to soften the impetuosity of Venus's temper, 
they thus addressed her : — " Wherefore, good mistress, 
dost thou thus seek the destruction of a damsel with 
whom thy son hath fallen in love ? What sin, forsooth, 
hath he committed? Why shouldst thou so obsti- 
nately oppose thyself to his happiness? Where is the 
harm, we pray thee, tell us, e'en though — aye, and 
with, right good-will — he hath bestowed a smile or two 
upon a pretty damsel ? Bethink thee of his sex and of 



176 FIFTH EPISODE. Book V. 

his youthful age. Surely you have forgotten the num- 
ber of his years, or imagine, forsooth, that because he 
hath a young appearance, he will remain a boy for 
ever. Fie upon thee, considerate female as thou art, 
not only thus inquisitively to pry into the gaieties of 
thy beautiful son, and take him to task for his loves 
and indiscretions, but blame him for exercising the 
agreeable arts and occupations taught him by thine own 
self Aye, by thine own self, we tell thee ; and let us 
ask, moreover, which of the gods, or where is the 
mortal, who will bear with thee, if thus thou run 
abroad scattering pleasure and delight in every direc- 
tion among the people, while, within thine own house, 
the very centre and emporium of female frailty. Love 
be detained a prisoner ?" 

Thus did the two goddesses, fearing they might 
themselves be one day wounded by the arrows of Cupid, 
propitiate the Grod of Love in his absence, while Venus, 
becoming still more irritated at her having injuries 
turned into ridicule, haughtily turned her back upon the 
speakers, and hastily transported herself to the sea. 



Book VL FIFTH EPISODE. 177 



BOOK VI. 



Conclusion of Fifth Episode. — Cu;pid and Psyche. 

Departure of Lucius with the Eobbers to fetch Booty concealed 
in a Cave — Their return — Another departure without 
Lucius — Lucius resolves to escape — Lucius seized by the 
Eobbers' Dame — Lucius, assisted by the Damsel, defeats his 
Antagonist — Lucius carries off the Damsel — Lucius and 
the Damsel retaken by the Eobbers — Death of the Eobbers' 
Dame — The Eobbers condemn Lucius and the Damsel to 
suffer a cruel death. 



Psyche, meanwhile^ distracted by various vicissitudes, 
and incessantly travelling by day, without being able to 
rest at night, went seeking her husband in all parts of 
the country. More anxious to find him, in the hope, 
even though the endearments of a wife proved unavail- 
ing, of pacifying his anger towards her, at all events, 
by her humble prayers. At last, as she was wandering 
along on her way, she happened to cast her eyes upon 
the summit of a high mountain, and espied a certain 
temple. Upon which said she to herself, *' How do I 
know that my husband hath not his place of habitation 
in the temple I see yonder?" And with that she 
hastened her pace and directed her course thither ; and 
though she was then thoroughly exhausted by continual 

I 3 



178 EIFTH EPISODE. Book YT. 

toil, love and hope so accelerated her steps, that she 
felt her frame refreshed, and climbed the heights of 
the mountain with renewed vigour, nimbly and skil- 
fiiUy mounting from ridge to ridge, till she arrived at 
the distant shrine. So soon as she approached the spot, 
she perceived a great many sheaves of wheat, abundance 
of wheat-ears, and others twisted into chaplets, lying 
loose on the ground. There were, together with the 
above, some ears of barley; and also, immediately in 
front of the temple, a number of reaping-hooks, and 
other harvest implements, all promiscuously scattered 
here and there in a disorderly manner, as the reapers are 
used to cast such things carelessly out of their hands 
in the heat of the day. Now Psyche, considering that 
she ought by no means to fail in religious regard to- 
wards the temple, but rather to appeal to the pity and 
benevolence of the gods, by the observance of all their 
ceremonies, began diligently to arrange and put in order 
every one of the things that were thus lying in confusion, 
and to lay each object apart in its proper place. 

While she was thus engaged, the bountiful goddess 
Ceres, observing how diligently and anxiously she 
was employed in the performance of the duty to- 
wards her temple, exclaimed to her from a considerable 
distance, " Oh miserable Psyche, how canst thou 
busy thyself at present with the implements of my 
temple, or think of aught than to save thyself while 
Venus in a raging passion is eagerly tracking thy foot- 
steps all over the world, and vows to wreak upon thee 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 179 

the utmost force of her divine vengeance ? " Psyche, 
so soon as she heard the above words of Ceres, eagerly 
rushed towards the goddess and threw herself pros- 
trate before her. Then sweeping the ground with her 
hair, and wetting the feet of the divinity with her 
tears, which flowed abundantly, she implored her 
protection in an earnest prayer, as follows : — " I im- 
plore thee by thy fruit-bearing right hand, by the 
joyous ceremonies of harvest, by the silent rites of the 
Canephorse, by thy servants the winged serpents of 
thy car, by the furrows of the Sicilian soil, by the 
raptive chariot of Pluto, by the earth that closed upon 
thy daughter descending to the shades below, by Pro- 
serpine's dreary nuptials, by the light of the ^tnean 
torches, and by all the holy mysteries that Eleusis the 
sanctuary of Attica holds in sacred concealment, — 
suffer, oh! sufier me for a few days to hide myself 
in yonder heap of wheat sheaves, until the rage of 
Venus after a little while be mitigated, or at least 
till a short interval of rest recruit my worn out 
strength." When Psyche had concluded her supplica- 
tion, Ceres replied to her as follows : — " Most truly 
have thy tears and prayers touched my heart, and fain 
would I render thee assistance ; yet I cannot provoke 
the displeasure of the worthy goddess, my relative, 
with whom a league of friendship hath long existed. 
Hie thee then away quickly from the vicinity of my 
temple, and be thankful I have not seized hold of thee 
and made thee prisoner." 



180 FIFTH EPISODE. Book VI . 

Psyche, having encountered this repulse quite con- 
trary to her expectation, was afflicted with twofold 
grief, and retraced her steps once more the way she 
eame. When she had got to the bottom of the moun- 
tain and was again proceeding on her way, she per- 
ceived within the precincts of the valley a shady grove, 
within whose gloomy recesses stood another temple, 
raised in an admirable style of arcliitecture. Deter- 
mining not to forego the chance of aid and deliverance 
were it never so small, but on the contrary re- 
solving to propitiate the favour of the presiding 
deity of the temple, whichever of the gods it might be, 
she approached the sacred entrance without hesitation. 
So soon as she arrived at the door she perceived several 
votive offerings suspended from the branches of the ad- 
joining trees, and also others hanging to the doorposts, 
and among them several garments upon which the name 
of the goddess Juno, to whom they were dedicated, and 
the special act of grace that the donors had received 
from the goddess, were wrought in letters of gold. 

Psyche accordingly perceiving that the temple be- 
longed to the goddess Juno, immediately fell upon 
her knees and embraced with her arms the yet tepid 
altar. Then wiping away her tears she thus addressed 
the divinity. — " Consort and sister of the mighty Jove, 
whether thou inhabit the ancient temple of Samos, the 
place of thy tender infancy and childhood, — or frequent 
the happy precincts of the lofty Carthage, where they 
worship thee under the form of a virgin passing through 



I 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 181 

the heavens in a car drawn by lions, — or preside over 
the walls of the renowned city of Argos near the banks 
of the Inachus, where thou art commemorated as the 
wife of the thundering Jupiter, and queen of all the god- 
desses, — thou whom the nations in the east venerate 
under the title Zygia, and those in the west asLucina, who 
affords her willing protection to childbearing women ; be 
to me on the present occasion, I implore thee, Juno 
Sospita, my protectress, and free me, exhausted as I am 
by the labour and sufferings I have endured, from the 
overwhelming danger that hangs over me." No sooner 
had Psyche concluded the above prayer than the god- 
dess Juno, appearing to her surrounded by all her 
divine dignity, addressed her as follows :^" Oh Psyche, 
willingly would I accede to thy prayers and grant thy 
request, but the regulations of propriety forbid me to 
counteract the will of a daughter-in-law whom I have 
always loved as if she were mine own offspring. The 
laws also prohibit me from receiving a fugitive servant 
like thee without the consent of her employer." 

Psyche now, after this second shipwreck of her 
fortunes, was grievously terrified, and losing all manner 
of hope of recovering her volatile husband, utterly 
abandoned herself to despair, regardless of her own 
welfare. Meanwhile she expressed, as follows, the 
reflections that agitated her mind : — " What other 
possible chance have I of relief from my troubles, now 
that even the goddesses themselves are unable to assist 
me, in spite of their own inclination? whither shall I 



182 FIFTH EPISODE. Book YK 

bend my wandering steps ? how avoid the snares that 
surround me on every side ? under what roof can I 
take refuge ? whither fly to escape the vigilant piercing 
eyes of allpowerful Venus ? where discover darkness 
black enough to conceal me ? Away then with femi- 
nine weakness, Psyche. Let masculine courage steel 
thy heart, renounce resolutely the vain prospect of thy 
happiness, and surrendering thyself, though late, to 
thy mistress of thy own accord, seek to soften her 
furious rage by submissive behaviour. Nay, perad- 
venture thou wilt find at the abode of his mother him 
whom you seek." 

Psyche having thoroughly made up her mind to try 
the- doubtful experiment at the risk of her life, began 
to meditate on the manner of proceeding, while Venus, 
declining for the present to pursue the search after her 
on earth any longer, transported herself to heaven. 

Arrived in the regions of the skies, Venus com- 
manded to be caparisoned the chariot that before her 
marriage Vulcan had presented to her, constructed 
with cunning art, a highly burnished golden nuptial 
gift, the more precious through the very diminu- 
tion of material, attenuated by the file. A flock 
of doves inhabited a cote near their mistress's bed- 
chamber. From these, four, milk-white, fluttering 
forth joyously, and bending their radiant necks to 
the yoke studded with precious gems, received the 
Goddess of Love within the vehicle, and flew forward 
on their way, accompanied by a numerous flight of 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 183 

sportive twittering sparrows and singing birds that 
continually whistled their sweet mellifluous strains. 
As the daughter of heaven approached, the rapidly dis- 
persing clouds unfolded ; and as the firmament opened 
before her, the ethereal heights rejoiced, while the 
canorous family, fearless of eagles and rapacious hawks, 
merrily fluttered along. Venus directed her course 
straight to the royal citadel of Jupiter ; and when ar- 
rived there, addressing herself with haughty mien to 
Jove, demanded to be allowed the temporary services 
of the vocal god Mercury on a special occasion. Jupiter 
having heard the request of Yenus, bent his azure brow 
in token of assent, whereat Venus greatly rejoiced ; 
and immediately descending from heaven to earth, ac- 
companied by the celestial messenger, she earnestly 
addressed him as follows, the moment they reached the 
ground : — ' ' Well dost thou know. Arcadian brother, 
that thy sister Venus, who in troth ne'er doth aught 
well without thy assistance, hath long been vainly 
seeking the place of concealment of Psyche, her run- 
away handmaiden. Wherefore will it behove thee, for 
now no other hope remains, to herald forth, before all 
the world, a reward for her discovery. Bestir thee, 
then, to prepare thy proclamation with mature caution 
from the instructions I will give thee, and so carefully 
describe the various marks and tokens whereby she 
may be recognized, that no mortal whatsoever, guilty 
of the crime of aflbrding her a hiding-place, shall ex- 
cuse himself on the plea of ignorance of my decree." 



184 FIFTH EPISODE. Book VI. 

Thus spake Venus to Mercury, and no sooner had 
she concluded her admonition to the winged god than 
she presented him a little book, in which were written 
the name of Psyche, and particulars relating to her. 
This done, the goddess immediately transported herself 
to her abode. 

When Venus had departed. Mercury, without the 
loss of a moment's time, proceeded to obey his orders ; 
and accordingly winging Ms rapid flight among all the 
people of the earth, promulgated the bidden procla^ma- 
tion in the following terms : — " Whoever of mortals 
will either seize and bring back, or discover the hiding- 
place of the fugitive daughter of a king, and hand- 
maiden of Venus, by name Psyche, shall receive, on 
application to the crier Mercury, in the myrtle grove 
beliind the temple of Venus, SEVEN sweet kisses from 
the lips of the Queen of Love herself, as a reward for 
his trouble." 

So soon as the proclamation of the above reward be- 
came known throughout the earth, all mankind were 
immediately cock-a-hoop to obtain the honourable dis- 
tinction, while Psyche, on the contrary, as Mercury 
hurried along on his way, was deprived of her utter- 
most grain of hope. Nevertheless she travelled, as she 
had proposed, imceasingly towards the abode of her 
mistress Venus ; and when she had arrived at the divine 
habitation, there came out of the palace one of Venus's 
family, who chanced to meet her. This personage was 
a female, and her name was Habit ; and the moment 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 185 

she caught sight of Psjche she exclaimed, her voice 
elevated to its utmost pitch, " What I thou good-for- 
nothing wench> hast thou begun at length to discover 
that thou hast a mistress ? Aye, and the more thy im- 
pudence, dost thou pretend not to know the trouble we 
all have had in searching for thee ? But now I have 
got thee, and 'tis well that of all others thou hast fallen 
into hands than which the claws of Pluto's crabs shall 
not hold thee more tightly. Soon will I make thee 
suffer the penalty of thy contumacy." So saying, she 
audaciously seized hold of Psyche, and burying her 
hand deep in her hair, violently dragged her, although 
she made no resistance, into the presence of Venus. 

So soon as Venus beheld Psyche, she burst into a 
loud fit of laughing, and shaking iier head at the 
same time, and clutching in her hand her right ear, as 
people who are furiously angry are wont to do, she 
thus exclaimed : " So then, at last forsooth, thou hast 
condescended to pay thy duty to thy mother-in-law ! 
Or is it that peradventure thou art come to see how 
fares thy husband after the wound thou inilicted on 
liim ? Like a worthy mother-in-law, never fear, 1 will 
receive thee. Ho, there ! ye servants of mine, Anxiet? 
and Sorrow, where are ye ? Come hither." 

At the call of Venus the two attendants above men- 
tioned. Anxiety and Sorrow, immediately made their 
appearance, and Venus having delivered Psyche to 
them to be tormented, they forthwith began to carry 
the orders of their mistress into execution. They ac- 



186 FIFTH EPISODE. Book VI. 

cordingly beat the miserable damsel with whips, and 
inflicted upon her various other tortures that put her 
to excruciating pain ; and when they had done, brought 
her back again into the presence of Venus. Venus, the 
moment she saw her again, fell a laughing as she had 
done before, exclaiming at the same time, ' ' Look at 
her, I pray you ; aye, I pray you, behold her ; view 
her, I say, in her present interesting condition ! What, 
tliinkest thou, forsooth, that thou wilt inspire me with 
compassion ? — that the thought of becoming the happy 
grandmother of thy notable offspring will excite pity in 
my bosom ? A grandmother, indeed 1 a pretty thing, 
truly, thus to be called a grandmother in the very 
flower of my age ! Aye, and hear the brat of a vile 
maidservant called Venus's grandson. Grandson? 
Nay, but such a title for her progeny is vain and futile. 
Cupid hath contracted an ill-assorted marriage without 
the consent of his father, the ceremony hath been 
solemnized without witnesses in a country palace, and 
the nuptials are not according to law. Therefore the 
issue of the marriage, if even we condescend to suffer 
the infant to be born, will be, at all events, illegi- 
timate." 

Venus had no sooner pronounced the above speech 
than, wrought into a furious rage towards the con- 
clusion, she violently flew upon Psyche, and, rend- 
ing open the bosom of her dress, and tearing her 
clothes in a great many places, she shook her by the 
head, pulled out her hair by the roots, and otherwise 



Book VL FIFTH EPISODE. 187 

grievously ill used lier. At last she commanded her 
attendants to bring and lay on the ground before her an 
enormous heap of seeds of different sorts, all mixed 
confusedly together, wheat, barley, millet, poppy, 
vetches, lentils, and beans. Then said Veniis to 
Psyche, " Methinks now I have sufficiently deprived 
thee of thy beauty, and thou art become so ugly that, 
provided thou art still inclined to fascinate thy lovers, 
thou wilt have to do so by servitude or other means of 
endearment than such as thou hast used before. 
Wherefore, in putting thy industry to the trial, I shall 
do thee a kindness. Separate then and set apart, each 
with each, the seeds in the heap yonder ; and, harkye, 
have them all arranged in proper order for my inspec- 
tion before nightfall." 

Then Venus, after delivering over the great heap of 
seeds to Psyche, gaily departed herself to preside at a 
nuptial banquet. 

Psyche now left alone no sooner began to consider 
the inextricable confusion of the heap of seeds, and the 
stupendous task that had been imposed upon her, than 
she was seized with a fit of consternation, and, being 
totally unable to lift a hand to extricate herself from 
her difficulty, remained silent and stupified. Neither 
would the laborious deed have been performed at all 
had not a tiny ant, one of the little rural creatures that 
inhabit the fields, been a witness of the colloquy, and, 
running eagerly and briskly hither and tliither, to and 
fro, summoned and called together the ants of all the 



l88 J^IFTH EPISODE. Book VI. 

anthills in the neighbourhood. Commiserating the 
wife of the potent Cupid on account of being con- 
demned to such a laborious service, and execrating 
the cruelty of her stepmother, so soon as they were 
all collected togetner, " Ye nimble children of all 
prolific earth," exclaimed he, " have pity on a pretty 
damsel ! Come readily ; do thy work quickly ; and 
help the wife of the God of Love from her grievous 
trouble." 

The ant had no sooner finished his brief address to 
his fellows than with one accord the entire six-footed 
population of the adjoining country rushed forwards 
towards the heap by myriads, and from very eager- 
ness, tumbling one over another in waves, worked 
with such unspeakable diligence that every seed in 
the heap was speedily carried away, grain by grain, 
and all the different kinds assorted, each apart in 
its proper place. This done, all the ants instantly 
got out of sight. And now, at the close of the 
evening, Yenus, exhilarated with wine, and adorned 
round her waist with a wreath of roses, glittering 
with dew-drops, returned fragrant with balsams from 
the nuptial banquet where she had been presiding, and 
perceiving that Psyche had got her task accomplished 
with miraculous promptitude, said to her, " The labour 
that hath been performed is not thy labour ; neither is 
the work the work of thine own hands; but, thou 
wicked creature, he whom, to his own and to thy sor- 
row, thou hast caused to love thee hath done it for 



Book VL FIFTH EPISODE. 189 

thee." Witli that Venus tossed a piece of coarse bread 
to Psyche, and herself retired to rest. 

Meanwhile Cnpid remained under close confinement 
in his bedchamber, where, in the inner part of Venus's 
palace, he was shut up, partly to prevent him from 
inflaming his wound by petulant behaviour abroad, and 
partly on purpose to keep him away from his beloved 
Psyche. Wherefore both the lovers passed a miserable 
night under the same roof, separated from one an- 
other. 

The next morning, so soon as Aurora had ushered 
in the day. Psyche was summoned to the presence of 
Venus, and Venus thus addressed her : — * ' Behold the 
grove stretching along the banks of the river yonder. 
See'st thou the whirling eddies above whose profound 
depths is a fountain on the brink ? Hie thee thither 
speedily, and thou wilt perceive a flock of sheep whose 
fleeces glitter with a beautiful golden radiance, wander- 
ing at large at pasture, unattended by a shepherd. A 
parcel of their wool I have need of. Go quick, procure 
it how thou canst, and bring it me." 

When Psyche had received the latter conamand of 
Venus she departed with extraordinary alacrity, not 
that she intended to obey the instructions given her, 
but with the determination to put an end to her sorrows 
once for all, and throw herself off the rock into the 
river. Accordingly she proceeded to the spot as f^st 
as she was able ; but when she arrived on the brink of 
the stream, a green reed, the child of sweet Music, 



190 FIFTH EPISODE. Book VI. 

growing in tlie water, thus, while agitated by a gentle 
breeze to a state of divine inspiration, addressed her in 
prophetic strain: — '' Oh Psyche, ever nursed in the lap of 
calamity, let not thy miserable death pollute the purity 
of my waters. Neither venture to approach those savage 
sheep which, browsing upon my bank, and imbibing 
from the noontide beams of the sun the heat of solar 
fire, become excited to furious madness. With their 
sharp horns, and heads hard as yon craggy rock, they 
gore and butt, and moreover not unfrequently inflict 
death on mortals by the bite of their venomous teeth. 
Await then awhile patiently, and when, Phoebus de- 
clining from his meridian height, the heat hath sub- 
sided, and the animals, soothed by the serene breath of 
the river breeze, have become tranquil, hie thee to yon 
tall plane-tree whose roots derive a kindred moisture 
with mine own from the bed of the stream, and there 
conceal thyself. Then when thou shalt perceive the 
sheep relieved from their state of fury lie down to rest, 
depart from thy hiding place beneath the spreading 
branches, and seek the inner recesses of the grove, 
where, shaking the branches of the bushes, thou wilt 
find clinging to the leaves as much of the golden wool 
as thou hast occasion for." Thus did the benevolent 
reed explain in simple terms to the love-sick Psyche 
the manner to procure her safety ; while Psyche adopt- 
ing its counsel accordingly, neither hesitated for a 
"moment to obey, nor afterwards had reason to repent 
her obedience. 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 191 

Without delay, therefore, she departed and concealed 
herself under the plane-tree ; and following besides the 
rest of her instructions implicitly, found no difficulty at 
the moment indicated, by means of the prescribed 
furtive stratagem, to possess herself of as large a quan- 
tity of the golden wool as she could conveniently stuff 
in her bosom. Thus laden with the soft, yellow, fleecy 
prize, she immediately returned to Venus. 

But it was the fate of Psyche not to receive? 
from her mistress even now on the conclusion cf 
her second enterprise its just reward. On the con- 
trary, Venus smiling with a bitter smile, said to her, 
knitting her brows — *' Truly as in the last instance 
do I perceive in the act thou hast performed the secret 
author of thy success. Wherefore will I put thee to 
another proof, and know of a certainty whether the 
courage and singular prudence thou hast manifested 
are thine in good truth. Behold those distant moun- 
tains crowned by yonder rock, and on the topmost sum- 
mit, bursting from their craggy source, those streams of 
black water flowing down into the lake, their receptacle 
in the valley below, whence pursuing their course 
through a subterranean channel, they emerge and irri- 
gate the stagnant marshes of the Styx, and the hoarsely 
roaring Cocytus, Go to the rock with utmost speed, 
and take with thee this pitcher ; when thou hast filled 
it with the icy water of the highest spring, return with 
it instantly." So saying, Venus put into Psyche's hand 
a flagon of elegant shape of crystal, and threatening 



192 FIFTH EPISODE. Book VI. 

her even more cruelly than she had ever done before, 
bade her proceed on her way. 

Psyche, certain of ending her wretched life on the 
summit of the mountain, accelerated her steps from 
eagerness to meet her destiny, and strenuously exerting 
herself until she arrived at the ground near the base of 
the rock which Venus had shown her, all at once per- 
ceived the stupendous fatal difficulty of the undertaking. 
For the rock was of enormous magnitude and extraordi- 
nary height ; and the terrific waters that ftom a central 
point on its summit were vomited from clefts and aper- 
tures, fell headlong for a short distance, and after- 
wards were carried by a deep, narrow, partly concealed 
channel, into the valley below. Meanwhile the path 
to the fountain was rugged, slippery, and inaccessible ; 
and on each side of it, on the right and on the left, 
among the excavations in the rock, fierce cruel serpents 
were crawling, stretching out their long necks and 
glaring with their watchful never- winking eyes, whose 
pupils were exposed to perpetual light. While Psyche, 
unable to ascend the path, was gazing in dismay at the 
terrible spectacle aroimd her, the waters, endowed with 
human * voice, as it were in their own defence, uttered 
various precautionary exclamations to the astonished 
damsel. "Away with thee!" "What dost thou 
here?" *'Look before thee!" "Whither art thou 

* The reader no doubt will be reminded here of the talking 
water, similar to the above, in the tale in the Arabian Nights' 
Entertainments. 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 193 

going?" ''Have a care !" "Begone I" " Thou ait 
doomed to destruction ! " And so forth. Meanwhile 
the awful impracticability of the task so paralysed 
Psyche, that deprived of the last consolation of the 
afflicted, the power to weep, her senses quite deserted 
her, and though corporeally present, she was the same 
as if turned into stone. 

But ever is the eye of kind Providence attentive to 
the sufferings of an innocent soul ! The mighty Jove, 
mindful of his former obligations to Cupid, and in 
honour of the prowess of the God of Love in the 
person of his wife, dispatched opportunely to the 
assistance of Psyche his own royal bird, the rapacious 
eagle; which, appearing suddenly, hovered above her 
head with both its wings extended. Quitting the 
ethereal paths of the firmament, the eagle poised itself 
in the air close before the damsel's face, and spoke 
to her as follows : — " Why truly thou art a simple 
damsel ! How little dost thou know of the task thou 
hast undertaken! Thinkest thou, forsooth, to steal 
a single drop, be it never so small, of yon truculent 
unapproachable fountain, or even ever to be able to 
reach the spot ? What ! Hast thou never even heard 
of the formidable waters of the Styx, that are dreaded 
even by great Jove himself? Canst thou be ignorant 
that, even as you mortals swear by the divinity of the 
gods, so are the oaths that bind the gods sworn by 
the Styx's majesty? But give me thy little flagon." 
Thus saying, the eagle seized the flagon in its beak, 

E 



194 FIFTH EPISODE. Book VI. 

and flapping its pinions as it steered its course to the 
right and to the left between rows of angry looking 
teeth and three forked tongues of the serpents, reached 
the summit of the steep. Then stretching its neck to 
the fountain it speedily filled the flagon, although the 
fountain, unwilling to part with its waters, and anxious 
for the safety of the eagle, bade it beware of its danger, 
and exclaimed 'aloud admonitory broken sentences, 
such as had been heard by Psyche. But the wily 
messenger, forging a pretence for the occasion, said it 
was dispatched with the vessel by Venus, who required 
the water ; upon which the fountain, without much 
ado, allowed it to execute its commission. Which 
done, the eagle immediately returned the way it came 
with the full flagon to Psyche. 

Psyche no sooner received the brimming flagon 
from the eagle than forthwith she carried it to Venus ; 
though, alas ! not even by this act of promptitude was 
the good will of the raging goddess to be conciliated. 
On the contrary, Venus, regarding Psyche with a 
withering smile, and meditating still more grievous 
outrages, said to her, '* Why surely thou must be a 
witch, aye, and a most wicked sorceress, or never 
couldst thou have performed so cleverly the tasks I set 
thee. But yet, forsooth, will I once more try thee, 
once more avail myself of thy ministration, my dar- 
ling." With that Venus produced a little box, and 
still addressing herself to Psyche, " Take this box," 
said she, **and with it bend thy course to the lowest 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 195 

realms of darkness, where thou wilt seek the deadly- 
abode of Pluto, and deliver it to Proserpine. Then 
say to Proserpine, ' Venus requests thee to send her 
some of thy beauty, were it only sufficient to last her a 
short winter's day; for by nursing her sick boy she 
hath lost every atom she possessed, through weariness.' 
And now away with thee, then thou wilt return the 
sooner ; — fain would I appear ere long at the theatre 
of the gods, in full radiance of my charms." 

Psyche, on receiving the box from Venus, felt that 
the veil of her hidden destiny was at length removed, 
and that the misfortunes now about to be encountered 
in the coming enterprise would most assuredly be her 
last. She thought, in short, that she was about to be 
sent to certain destruction. How indeed is it possible, 
compelled to go alone on foot to Tartarus, and the 
shades below, she could think otherwise ? Nevertheless 
Psyche delayed not a moment to set forward on the 
journey, and had already proceeded some distance when 
she perceived, a little way on one side of the road, a 
very high tower. Accordingly, concluding that the 
nearest and very best way to go to the shades below 
was to throw herself from off the top of the tower upon 
the ground, she immediately bent her steps towards it. 
But when she arrived there and was about to ascend 
for that purpose, she suddenly heard a voice issuing 
from the tower that addressed her as follows : — '* Why 
dost thou seek to end thy life, miserable little damsel ? 
Why dost thou suffer thyself to be overcome by this, 

K 2 



I 



196 FIFTH EPISODE. ^ Book VI. 

thy last labour, and thy last peril ? Why rush with 
suicidal haste to Tartarus? To Tartarus, aye, to its 
lowest depths, full surely mayst thou go; but no mortal 
nor immortal power, when once the breath of life hath 
parted from thy body, can ever recall thee. Listen, 
then ; I will give thee counsel. 

** Not far from hence is situated Lacedasmon, a noble 
city of Achaia, whither thou must go, and there, within 
its precincts, in a retired spot, concealed by brushwood, 
thou wilt find the cave of Tasnarus. Within the open 
jaws of that dreary cave, which is, as it were, Pluto's 
breathing hole, a blind path appears to descend from 
the entrance, which path thou must follow, and it will 
lead thee by a direct track to the very palace of Pluto. 
Empty handed, however, through those regions of 
darkness, 'tis not meet to proceed ; but bear in each 
of thy hands a cake of barley -flour, steeped in wine 
and honey, and in thy mouth hold two pieces of 
money. When advanced along the realms of death a 
good portion of thy way, the lame driver of a lame 
ass which thou wilt meet, laden with a load of wood, 
will beg of thee to pick up from the ground some sticks 
that have fallen from the load ; but heed him not, nor 
let the slightest sound escape thy lips. Be silent and 
pass on. Presently thou wilt arrive at the Styx, the 
river of the dead, and there see Charon, the unearthly 
prefect, who conducts passengers in his crazy boat 
across the river. Charon will demand of thee thy 
passage-money, for avarice is ever alive even among 



I 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 197 

the dead; nor will Charon, nor Pluto neither, do 
aught gratuitously. Wherefore the poor man, if about 
to die, need always ask for his viaticum, which if the 
people about him have not at hand to give, they ought 
not to allow him to die. 

" Give the dirty old ferryman for thy passage across 
the river one of the two pieces of money from thy mouth, 
and be careful that he with his own hand take it from 
thy lips. An old dead man wilt thou see whilst going 
across, — a corpse, which, swimming on the surface of 
the sluggish stream, will stretch forth his putrid arms 
towards thee, and implore thee to drag him into the 
boat. But bend not thine ear to pity : 'tis forbidden. 
On the other side of the river, a little distance from 
the farther bank, some old women weaving a web 
of cloth will call out and request thee to assist them 
for a little while. But again beware : neither go near 
the women nor touch their web. For all these things, 
against which I caution thee, ay, and many more 
also that I tell thee not of, are nought but snares 
laid hj Venus, in order to make thee drop from 
thy hand at least one of the barley cakes — wliich 
accident, if it once betide thee, think not a small 
misfortune. Although only one be lost, and the other 
remain, never again wouldst thou see the light of day. 
The shadowy palace of Pluto is guarded by a terrible, 
enormous dog, with three large heads and wide gaping 
jaws, which monster continually barking and terrifying 
the dead, whom it hath not the power otherwise to 



198 FIFTH EPISODE. Book VI. 

harm than by its voice of thunder, is ever on the watch 
before the atrium of Proserpine. Toss one of thy 
cakes to this dog, and thou wilt pass by him easily, 
and then without farther trouble enter the palace of 
Proserpine. 

" Proserpine will receive thee courteously and kindly; 
nay, speaking in a soothing tone, will endeavour to 
persuade thee to rest thyself on a soft couch, and 
partake of a delicious banquet; but accept not the 
invitation. On the contrary, sit on the ground and 
ask for a morsel of coarse bread, which eat, and when 
thou hast finished thy frugal meal, say quickly what 
has brought thee. Then thou wilt receive whatever 
she give thee, and come back the way you came. On 
thy return, stay the fury of the dog with the other 
barley-cake, and reserve the other piece of money for 
the avaricious ferryman; then thou wilt once more 
safely emerge beneath the stars of yon celestial canopy. 
One thing above all I strictly charge thee : open not 
the box, nor even cast thine eyes upon the lid ; nay, 
suffer not thyself to think at all of the beauty of which 
thou art the bearer." 

Thus spoke the tower, which, foreseeing future 
events, unfolded prophetic mysteries. Psyche ac- 
cordingly, taking with her the two barley-cakes and the 
two pieces of money, set forward without delay, and 
proceeding to Ljecedsemon found the cave of Taenarus, 
which entering, she followed the path that led straight 
to the infernal regions. As she went along, every- 



Book VL FIFTH EPISODE. 199 

thing happened precisely as the tower predicted ; and, 
first of all, having passed the lame ass with its lame 
driver in silence, and afterwards paid one of the 
pieces of money to the ferryman, and treated with 
neglect the request of the corpse swimming in the river, 
and behaved disdainfully to the old weaving women, 
and, finally, pacified the horrible dog with the sop 
of food, she penetrated safe and sound to the palace 
of Proserpine. There, refusing the soft seat offered her 
by her hostess, declining to partake of a splendid re- 
past, but content with coarse bread, humbly seating 
herself at the feet of Proserpine, she delivered the 
message of Venus. Then speedily did Psyche receive ' 
back from Proserpine the box which on her arrival she 
had given her, and the other had secretly filled and 
closed; after which, immediately setting forward on 
her return, she practised the same stratagem as before 
upon the dog, whose barking jaws she closed with the 
remaining sop, and gave her last piece of money to 
the ferryman. 

Psyche then emerged from the cave of Taenarus, 
and leaving the infernal regions, had no sooner paid 
her homage to the bright light of day than she felt 
exceedingly refreshed in spirits and in strength. At 
the same time a rash, irresistible curiosity seized her 
mind, notwithstanding the extraordinary degree of 
eagerness she felt to complete the service of her mission. 
Talking to herself, as she went along, " Fool that I 
am," said she, ''to be thus the bearer of a box of 



200 FIFTH EPISODE. Book VI. 

divine beauty, without even taking for myself a morsel, 
be it never so small. Nay, at all events, were it only 
for the sake of fascinating my own beautiful lover, 
I must and will have but a little bit." Witb tbat, 
without more ado, she opened the box, though no 
beauty nor anything else was within it, with the ex- 
ception of an infernal, somniferous, truly Stygian 
vapour, which immediately infusing itself throughout 
her whole body, and infecting her senses, she was 
seized with a profound sleep, and fell down in the 
middle of the path. There, with limbs collapsed and 
motionless as a corpse, she lay on the very spot where 
she stood. 

Meanwhile Cupid had recovered from the effects of 
his wound, and was now quite well. Accordingly, no 
longer able to tolerate the prolonged absence of his be- 
loved, he flew out of a little window in the apartment 
where he lay, and cutting through the air with more 
than ordinary rapidity, for his wings were refreshed 
by rest exceedingly, soon, very soon, reached Psyche. 
Cleansing her in an instant cleverly from the soporific 
vapour, and enclosing it again in the box as it was be- 
fore,* he touched Psyche gently with the point of one 
of his arrows, upon which, instantly aroused at the 
innoxious puncture, she sprang upon her feet, and he 
said to her, " Behold, miserable damsel ! now a second 

* From the above incident 'tlie German story of the shadow- 
less man, Peter Schlemil, whose shadow the devil rolled up and 
carried away, appears to have its origin. 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 201 

time iiath curiosity well nigh brought thee to destruc 
tion. But away with thee; complete the enterprise 
with which my mother hath charged thee, and for the 
rest which concerns thyself, leave all to me." 

The buoyant lover, so soon as he had pronounced the 
above words, immediately flew away, and Psyche sought 
the abode of Venus with the present of Proserpine : but 
Cupid, more desperately in love than ever, anticipating 
a sudden fit of his mother's severity from her lowering 
looks, speedily betook himself to his wits, and mounting 
aloft in the air, darted along the topmost heights of 
heaven to the abode of Jupiter. There Cupid throwing 
himself in a supplicating posture at Jupiter's feet, 
pleaded his cause submissively. Jupiter, raising his 
hand to his lips, kissed it, and then pinching the cheek 
of Cupid, thus addressed him : — " My son, and eke my 
master, although, instead of treating me with the respect 
that the universal consent of the divinities hath decreed 
me as father of the gods, thou hast never ceased to 
shoot thine arrows at this breast of mine, where lies the 
source of the laws that govern the elements and guide 
the revolutions of the stars. And ever afflicting me 
with the love of terrestrial damsels, hast thereby fre- 
quently compelled me to infringe the laws — aye, even 
the Julian edict — to the great detriment of my dignity. 
Nay, notwithstanding that, on occasions many and 
various, to the subversion of public morals and injury 
to mine own reputation, thou hast compelled me to 
relinquish my serene countenance, and transform myself 

K 3 



202 FIFTH EPISODE. Book VI. 

into all manner of ugly shapes — serpents, wild beasts, 
cattle, birds, even into a flame of fire, etc., — although 
thou hast done all these things, I say, yet will I not be 
forgetfiil of the time when I treated thee kindly as a 
child, and nursed thee in these arms. Well, all thou 
hast asked will I do for thee, though let me warn thee, 
when once thou art married beware of rivals, for to 
thyself thou wilt have solely to look for protection, as 
thou art well able. And, hark ye, the good service 
that I render thee now thou mayest one day requite, 
if peradventure a maiden of more than common beauty 
chance to fall in thy way." 

Thus spake the mighty Jupiter, and summoning to 
his presence Mercury, bade him proclaim forthwith an 
assembly of the gods, under a penalty of ten thousand 
pieces of money for every one of the divinities, in 
default of being present; wherefore, the gods being 
mightily afraid of the penalty, the celestial theatre was 
filled speedily and completely. And now the lofty 
Jupiter, seated on his sublime throne above all the 
rest, thus addressed the deities : — " Ye conscript gods, 
whose names are duly registered in the white roll of 
the Muses, 'tis indispensable at length to check the 
ardent impetuosity of that youth of mine, whom I 
brought up from a child. With that youth, doubtless, 
you are all perfectly well acquainted. Suffice it now 
to make known to you, that, in addition to various 
scrapes and mischief into which he is falling perpetu- 
ally, he now is desperately enamoured with a certain 



Book VI. FIFTH EPISODE. 203 

young damsel who hath more than ordinary claims 
on his fideHty. Wherefore, in order to remove at 
once the occasion of similar irregularities, let him 
be bound fast in the fetters of matrimony, and have, 
hold, and for ever enjoy the love and society of the 
maiden of his choice. Daughter," continued Jupiter, 
turning his face towards Venus, '* give thyseH' no un- 
easiness, nor apprehend the loss of family dignity 
through a mortal alliance. I wiU order it otherwise ; 
both parties shall be on a par — equals shall be joined 
to equals in a legitimate marriage, according to the 
civil law." 

When Jupiter had concluded his address to the gods, 
he immediately ordered Mercury to find Psyche and 
bring her up to heaven, upon which Mercury obeyed 
his instructions instantly, and rapidly winging his 
course to the earth, returned with her without delay. 
Then Jupiter taking in his hand a cup of ambrosia, and 
extending it towards Psyche, said to her, " Take this. 
Psyche, and become immortal ! The bonds of thy 
nuptials with Cupid will be perpetual, and he shall 
never more desert thee." 

Then was served instanianeously a delicious wedding 
supper, at which the bridegroom, with Psyche reclining 
on his bosom, occupied the uppermost couch ; and all 
the gods and goddesses, arranged similarly in pairs ac- 
cording to their rank, and beginning with Jupiter and 
Juno, surrounded the table. Cups of nectar were 
served to Jupiter by his rural cupbearer Ganymede — 



204 EETURN OF THE ROBBERS. Book Vl. 

to all the rest by Bacchus ; and ttie banquet was cooked 
by Vulcan. The Hours strewed roses and flowers on 
the ground till all surroundmg objects glowed with 
purple ; the Graces scattered perfumes and balsams in 
the air ; the Muses joined chorus with their full sono- 
rous voices ; ApoUo attuned his song to the harp ; and 
Venus, keeping time beautifully with her feet, danced 
to the music of a satyr and Paniscus, who played the 
pipe and the flute. And thus Psyche, becoming 
Cupid's lawful wife, was in due time brought to bed of 
a daughter, whom we call Pleasure. 

END OF FIFTH EPISODE. 



The old woman, whose imagination as she proceeded 
was warmed by wine to a state of delirium, now con- 
cluded the relation of her story to the captive damsel, 
while, by Hercules ! I felt truly vexed, having been 
standing near at hand listening all the while, that I had 
neither pen, nor note-book, nor the power of com- 
mitting to writing such a pretty fable. But while such 
reflections as these were passing in my mind, lo and 
behold, the robbers returned aU of a sudden to the cave 
from their excursion. I know not where they had 
been, but they had had a grievous battle somewhere, 



feooK VI. liOBBERS FETCH BOOT^. 205 

and were laden with booty, though several of their 
packages were left behind in a place of concealment, 
whither some of the most daring spirits now proposed 
to return and fetch the articles, leaving at home their 
wounded companions to have their wounds taken care 
of. Accordingly, so soon as they had hastily gobbled 
down their dinner j they immediately proceeded on the 
proposed expedition, taking with them me and my 
horse to serve as beasts of burden, and thrashing us 
with their sticks from our stable into the road, they 
drove us up hill and down hill, through rough winding 
roads, till we arrived, at an early hour in the evening, 
at a cave, the place of our destination. There, not- 
withstanding we were miserably tired, we were not 
allowed a moment's time for refreshment; but they 
loaded us immediately with grievously heavy burdens, 
and drove us back the way we came. Indeed, from 
the fear of being pursued, they hurried us along in 
such a manner with their cudgels that at last, by 
flinching to avoid their blows, I tripped over a stone 
that lay on the road, and falling down bruised my near 
hoof and considerably hurt my off fore leg. While 
they were compelling me to rise, which put them to 
not a little trouble, said the one to the other, " Why 
the ass is dead lame already ! How much longer shall 
we be at the pains to feed such a foundered animal ?" 

" 'Twas under an evil omen he came to us," replied 
his companion ; " nothing but bad luck have we had 
ever since we got him. Some of our bravest comrades 



206 ROBBERS DEPART WITHOUT LUCIUS. Book VI. 

Jbave been killed, others baxlly wounded, and all the 
booty we have taken is no compensation." 

" Truly," said a tbiid, " be shall carry home his load 
whether he will or not, and so soon as we arrive I'll 
push him over the precipice. He'U make a dainty 
meal for the vultures at all events." 

Then did these very humane gentlemen begin to 
altercate with one another with regard to the sort of 
death I was to be made to suffer ; while fear, as I heard 
aU they were saying, made wings of my hoofs as it 
were, and finding myself compelled to yield to its for- 
cible inspiration, we speedily finished our journey. 
So soon as we arrived at the cave, without giving 
themselves the least concern about my horse and my- 
self, or even takiug the trouble to put me to death, 
they unloaded and carried within the tilings lifted off 
our backs, and taking with them their companions 
whose wounds were now dressed, they all sallied forth 
together on another excursion, to make up, as they 
said, for the time they had lost owing to our sluggish- 
ness. 

So soon as they had all departed, I made no scruple 
in making up my mind what to do, and said to myself, 
" Why dost thou stand still here, oh Lucius? Why 
thus tamely await the last of mortal calamities ? Thou 
art condemned by the robbers to death, aye, a most 
cruel death, and how easily can they carry thy sen- 
tence into execution ! Behold, projecting from yon 
rocky cliffs, those angular crags whose points, fall 



Book VI. LUCIUS RESOLVES TO ESCAPE. 207 

where thou wilt, will penetrate thy body and tear thee 
limb from limb ; for, although the famous magic thou 
wert once so fond of hath given thee the form and in- 
flicted on thee the labours of an ass, it hath covered 
thee with a skin no more capable of affording thee 
protection than if it were the tender cuticle of a 
horse-leech. Then bestir thyself; arouse all thy virile 
energy, and while yet it is in thy power have a care 
to thine own preservation. Now thou hast an ex- 
cellent opportunity for flight while the robbers are 
away. What ! Dost thou fear thy keeper ? — ^an old, 
decrepit woman, already half dead, whom a single 
kick, were it only fiom that lame hoof of thine, would 
utterly demolish? Aye, truly! But whither then 
wilt thou direct thy flight? What people? Who 
will give thee shelter and a home ?" 

Though the last was a silly, or more properly an 
asinine reflection — for where is the traveller who will not 
willingly ride off upon an ass that falls in his way ? — 
I nevertheless made a violent effort, and, with a sudden 
jerk, snapping asunder the leathern thong that con- 
fined me, was merrily starting away on my quadru- 
pedal course ; but being unable to evade the hawk-eyes 
of the cunning old woman, she, the moment she per- 
ceived me loose, seized me by the halter, and with 
a strength and audacity beyond her age and sex, 
struggled most lustily, and did all that possibly lay in 
her power to stop me and pull me back. 1, meanwhile, 
thinking of the fatal design the robbers had upon me, 



L 



208 CARRIES OFF THE DAMSEL. Book VI. 

felt no pity for the old woman, but immediately flina^- 
ing out at Ker with both my hind feet, laid her on the 
ground sprawling. Then I galloped oW, and dragged 
her along, while she held on fast by the leathern 
thong, lying flat on her stomach, screaming and 
howling terribly, and vainly calling on those whose 
arms were stronger than her own to come and help her. 
But neither were her tears, nor all the noise she made, 
of any use ; not a human being, nor any one capable of 
rendering assistance, made their appearance ; nobody, 
indeed, but the young captive damsel, who, alarmed 
at the sound of the old woman's cries, came running 
out of doors, and, by Hercules ! saw a scene in a 
memorable play enacted, — the old woman performing 
the part of Dirce ; and though not, in truth, tied to a 
wild bull's tail, hanging to an ass's halter. 

The young damsel, meanwhile, attempted a noble 
enterprise at the momentous crisis. Seizing hold of the 
thong, wrencliing it out of the hand of the old woman, 
and moderating my pace by whispering a few soothing 
words in my ear, she nimbly, and with truly masculine 
courage, leaped upon my back, and urged me to my 
utmost speed. For my own part, I felt myself at the 
moment gifted with a double impulse, — the inclination 
to run away of my own accord, and a desire of libe- 
rating the damsel, who added considerable force to her 
persuasion by giving me frequent stripes. The ground, 
meanwhile, shook under the concussion of my four 
hoofs, as I ran with a horse's swiftness, sometimes 



I 



Book VI. CARRIES OFF THE DAMSEL. 209 

endeavouring by braying to imitate the sweet damsel's 
voice, and at other times, bending round my neck 
under pretence of scratching my back, to kiss her 
beautiful feet. 

At last, the damsel, heaving a deep sigh, burst forth 
in an exclamation, and looking with an anxious coun- 
tenance up to heaven, "Ye gods," said she, "render 
me at last your assistance in this extreme peril ; and 
Fortune, cruel Fortune, cease thy fury ; for thee, at 
least, surely, I have appeased by the sufferings I have 
now endured." Then continued she, addressing her- 
self to me, " And thou, preserver of my life and liberty, 
shouldst thou take me home, and deliver me safe to my 
parents and my beautiful lover, how earnestly, oh ! 
how gratefully will I thank thee ! what honours will 
I pay thee ! how daintily will I feed thee ! These 
maiden hands shall entwine jewels in thy mane ; shall 
part prettily the rough hair upon thy forehead ; shall 
comb and disentangle the matted bristles of thy long- 
neglected tail. I will inoculate thee all over, thick as 
the stars of the firmament, with golden, glittering 
studs, and lead thee forth triumphantly in all our 
popular processions. And then, oh 1 my deliverer, I 
will pamper thee with sweetmeats, and bring thee 
pine-apples every day in my silken apron. Aye, and 
even yet more will I do for thee. Griory and dignity 
shall also be thine in the eyes of posterity. Not only 
shall delicate food, all manner of comforts, and profound 
rest delight thee for the remainder of thy life, but 



210 CARRIES OFF THE DAMSEL. Book VI. 

I will commemorate the beneficence of divine provi- 
dence and this adventure by a lasting memorial. A 
votive picture shall be painted and suspended in the 
atrium of our palace, whence all the world shall view 
with admiration a noble specimen of the painter's art, 
and the pens of the learned hand down to remote 
generations the history of our flight. Thence a fable 
will be originated, and last for ever, under the homely 
title of " A EoYAL Virgin flying from captivity 
ON THE BACK OF A DONKEY." In future ages, this deed 
of thine will be reckoned among the ancient miracles; 
for who, taught by thy truthful memorial, will doubt 
thereafter, that Phryxus crossed the sea on the back of 
a ram, that Arion bestrode a dolphin, or that a bull 
transported Europa over the waves ? Nay, if Jupiter 
did ever actually bellow under a bovine form, there is 
surely concealed in thee somewhat of human or divine." 
The young damsel had hardly concluded her solilo- 
quy, and was continuing to express herself in broken 
•sentences, occasionally interrupted by sighs, when, all 
of a sudden, we came to a place where the road before 
us branched into two, and the three roads met toge- 
ther. Now, as the right hand road led to the abode of 
the young damsel's parents, she pulled hard at the 
halter, and tried as much as was in her power to make 
me go that way. I, on the other hand, knowing the 
latter was the road taken by the robbers, who had 
gone to fetch the remainder of their booty, stoutly 
objected; and while I resisted her efforts, mentally 



Book VI. RETAKEN BY THE ROBBERS. 211 

expostulated as follows : — " What, oh ! miserable dam- 
sel, art thou going to do ? Whither wouldst thou go ? 
Why thus hasten to the shades below? Why, at all 
events, oblige me to carry thee thither? For 'tis not 
thyself alone, but me also, thou wouldst bring to 
destruction." 

Thus we went on for some time striving one against 
the other, each desirous of going a different way, and 
disputing the ground like the coheirs of a patrimony in 
a lawsuit. At last, all of a sudden, we were surprised by 
the robbers, laden with their booty, who recognising us 
a long way off by the light of the moon, came stealthily 
upon us ; and one of them, with a malignant smile on 
his countenance,, addressed the following salutation to 
the damsel : — " Whither now at this late hour of the 
night ? what art thou going to do along yonder road 
by moonlight ? what ! hast thou no fear for ghosts and 
goblins ? or, dutiful daughter as thou art, wouldst thou 
pay thy parents a clandestine visit? but we will show 
thee thy nearest way, and be a guard to thee in thy 
solitude." With that, suiting the action to the word, 
he caught me by the neck with one of his hands, and 
seizing the halter with the other, pulled me round, and 
without more ado began to drive me back the way I 
came, beating me at the same time without mercy, 
with a great knotted stick that he carried with him. 
Thus compelled, against my will, to return to the 
cruel death in store for me, recollecting that I had 
hurt my hoof, I began all of a sudden to nod my head 



212 DEATH OF THE ROBBERS' DAME. Book VI. 

and to limp as I went along; upon which said the 
robber, he who pulled me back, "What! dost thou 
begin again to stagger and stumble ? Lookye now ! 
why those foundered boofs of thine that tbou canst 
hardly bear to set on the ground, carried thee, forsooth, 
while thou wast running away, witb the speed of a 
winged Pegasus." And so did my gentle comrade con- 
tinue for some time to talk to me in a jocular strain, 
shaking his stick at me all the while till we arrived 
at the outer fence of tbe robbers' abode ; when, lo ! 
and behold, the first object we perceived was the old 
woman hanging by a noose round her neck to the 
branch of a tall cypress tree. The robbers inune- 
diately took her down, and after tying her neck and 
heels with her own rope threw her over a precipice. 
Then putting fetters on the damsel, they sat down to 
supper, and Kke so many wild beasts, devoured the 
banquet — a posthumous act of diligence, as it were — 
that the miserable little old woman had prepared ! 

And now, while witli greedy voracity they were 
tearing their victuals in pieces witli their teeth, the 
first topic that arose to be discussed among them was 
how to gratify tlieir revenge, by inflicting suitable 
punishment on the damsel and myself As is inva- 
riably the case in every turbulent assembly in the 
consideration of an afiair of importance, the opinions 
expressed on the subject were many and various. 
One robber, for example, proposed that the damsel 
should be burnt alive; another said she ought to 



Book VI. CONDEMN LUCIUS AND THE DAMSEL. 213 

be thrown to wild beasts; a tliird recommended to 
have her nailed to the cross ; and a fourth declared her 
flesh should be torn from her body with pincers. In 
short, aU were unanimous in condemning her to suffer 
death in one way or another. At last one comrade of 
the band, after procuring silence among his fellows, 
addressed them in a remarkably smooth, placid tone 
of voice as follows : — " I cannot permit you, neither 
is it conformable to your own merciful dispositions, to 
the regulations of our sect and college, or indeed to my 
own feehngs, to exercise in this affair a degree of ven- 
geance as disproportioned to the crime as it is unrea- 
sonable in itself. Let us hear no more of your fire, 
of your cross, of your wild beasts, or of your pincers ; 
neither be in such a violent hurry as to inflicting the 
punishment of death that you propose. But listen to 
the counsel I will give you, and then doubtless you 
will agree to concede to the damsel just so much and 
no more life than she deserves to enjoy. With regard 
to the ass, and the sentence which you cannot have 
forgotten is already passed upon him, — since he hath 
ever been a lazy brute and an enormous eater, hath 
shammed lame, and been an accomplice in the damsel's 
flight, — I would recommend you to cut his throat to- 
morrow. I would then further submit to your con- 
sideration, that having extracted from him his bowels 
and aU his inside, the damsel, since she hath been in- 
clined to prefer his company to that of ourselves, should 
be sewn up in his hide in such a manner that her body 



214 CONDEMN LUCIUS AND THE DAMSEL. Book VL 

be all as one, as the body of the animal, and lier head 
alone protrude and be visible. Both the ass and the 
lady, when thus stitched together and abandoned on 
some rugged rock, exposed to the burning rays of the 
sun like a stuffed sausage, will very justly suffer the 
sentences you have determined upon. For while he 
wiU be put to death as he justly deserves, she will 
actually be made to suffer every jot of the torments 
you just now decreed her. For wild beasts will tear 
her limb from limb, worms will devour her remains, 
the fire of the sun scorch her. And as regards the 
pangs of the cross, — either the dogs and vultures will 
drag forth her entrails, and so destroy her, or, — a 
living creature confined within the putrefying body of 
a dead ass, and deprived of the use of hands to rid 
herself of a miserable existence, — she must perish of 
deadly hunger." 

Here the robber concluded a speech that was received 
by his comrades with stamping of the feet, and other 
tokens of universal applause. Every one, in fact, 
agreed with him with all their hearts to carry the above 
sentence into execution. Which when I heard with 
my long ears, how could I do otherwise than bewail 
my poor body, that the very next morning was to be a 
dead carcase? 



Book VII. ARRIVAL OF A SPY FROM HYPATA, 215 



BOOK VII. 



Arrival of a Spy of the Robbers from Hypata — Proposal to 
recruit their Troop — A new Recruit — His History and 
liberal Contribution — The Recruit chosen Leader of the 
Troop — Discussion relating to the fate of the Damsel and 
Lucius — a Sacrifice to Mars — Grand Supper of the Robbers 

— the new Leader factotum — Lucius's displeasure at the 
new Leader's behaviour towards the Damsel — An inte- 
resting Discovery — Escape of the Damsel Charity with her 
lover Tlepolemus and Lucius — Their triumphal entry into 
the native City of Tlepolemus and Charity — Lucius sent to 
free Pasture — Is delivered to the care of the Master of the 
Stud of Horses — Lucius's Disappointment — Lucius put 
into a Mill — Lucius at last sent to Pasture — Lucius ill- 
used by the Horses — Lucius brings Wood from the Moun- 
tains — A cruel Donkey-driver — Lucius falsely accused by 
the Donkey-driver — Death of the Donkey-driver and escape 
of Lucius — Lucius seized by a Stranger — The Stranger 
taken, and Lucius retaken by the Servants of his late Master 

— Lucius cruelly beaten by the Mother of the Donkey- 
driver. 

The bright chariot of the Sun had dispersed the dark- 
ness of night, and his nev^ly risen orb was illurdinating 
the surrounding objects, when there arrived at the 
abode of the robbers another of their comrades : at least 
by the mutual salutations that passed between all of 
them, so he appeared to be. Panting for want of 



216 ARRIVAL OF A SPY FROM HYPATA. Book VII. 

breath, lie sat himself down immediately, at the en- 
trance of the cave, whence, after he had a little recovered, 
he addressed himself to the members of his college, and 
proclaimed his business, as follows : — 

' ' With regard to the house of Milo, that we plun- 
dered at Hypata, brave gentlemen, you may set your 
minds at rest, and make yourselves quite easy. After 
you left Hypata, and having carried away everything 
from the house, were gone home with the booty, 1 re- 
mained there according to your instructions, and mix- 
ing among the various groups of people conversing on the 
event that had happened, sought to learn what measures 
were in progress against our band. Assuming a sor- 
rowful countenance and an air of excessive indignation, 
I listened eagerly all the while to every word that was 
said on the subject of our adventure, in order that I 
might bring you information as agreed upon, of the 
various opinions expressed by different people relating 
to the discovery and pursuit of us. I am now there- 
fore able to state for a certainty that all the arguments 
and all the reasoning on probabilities among the entire 
multitude brought them every man unanimously to one 
common conclusion ; namely, that a certain Lucius, a 
person whom, by the way, I never heard of, is the 
author of the deed in question. This Lucius, they say, 
provided with fictitious letters, stating him to be a per- 
son of respectability, introduced himself a little while 
ago into the house of Milo, where, having been hospi- 
tably entertained for several days, he took an oppor- 



I 



Book VII. THE SPY'S NARRATIVE. 217 

tunity, by making treacherous professions of love to 
the maid servant, and procuring her assistance, to ex- 
plore the various locks and fastenings about the house, 
and learn particularly the apartments where Milo kept 
his treasure. But the principal proof that they assign 
of his guilt, and hold to be incontrovertible, is, that he 
disappeared on the very night, nay, at the very hour 
of the robbery ; nor since the moment he absconded, 
say they, has he ever been heard of. And they add 
still further, that in order to baffle his pursuers by a 
more rapid flight, and take refuge in a distant country, 
he took with him a white horse that belonged to him, 
and he was accustomed to ride. He had a servant, 
whom the magistrates, since he was received with his 
master into Milo's house, considering he must neces- 
sarily be an accomplice, and able to bear testimony 
against him, cast at once into the public prison, whence 
they took him out the next morning and put him to 
the torture. Nevertheless, although they tore nearly 
all the flesh from his bones with pincers, and tortured 
him in various ways till he was all but dead, not a 
syllable of the matter in question could they prevail 
upon the fellow to confess. Therefore they forthwith 
dispatched a great many messengers to different parts 
of this Lucius's native country, and have directed them 
to make all possible inquiries after the criminal in order 
to bring him to justice." 

Here the robber concluded the narrative of his pro- 
ceedings to his companions, while I, drawing a com- 

L 



218 LUCIUS'S KEFLECTIONS. Book VIL 

parison in my mind between the condition of the once 
happy Lucius and my present untoward calamities in 
the form of a miserable jackass, groaned to my very 
marrow. ' ' Sound indeed is the doctrine of our learned 
men," thought I to myself, *'who comment on the 
blindness of Fortune, and say she is altogether deprived 
of eyesight. Wherefore else doth she so bestow her 
riches on the wicked and unworthy, and injudi- 
ciously select as the objects of her bounty, persons 
whom, if she had eyes to see, she would surely fly 
away from ? Worst of aH why place mankind before 
the world under false appearances, bestow the reputa- 
tion of the man of probity on the nefarious doer, and 
heap punishment for the crimes of the wicked on the 
head of the virtuous? In short, why hath she, by 
the most cruel caprice imaginable, transformed me 
into a dumb animal, the very lowest quadruped of all 
the orders of creation, and after inflicting upon me a 
misfortune that would excite the pity of the most 
hard-hearted being on earth, now charge me with a 
crime, not merely burglarious robbery, but actually 
parricide — robbing the house of my very dear worthy 
host?" At last, although entirely deprived of the 
power of uttering a word in my own defence, I was 
so overpowered by impatience at the idea of the 
malicious imputation going abroad against me, and the 
fear, were I to acquiesce in the accusation, of having 
hereafter to suffer the pain of an evil conscience, that 
I resolved no longer to hear such things said of me 



Book VII. THE SPY'S CONTRIBUTION. 219 

in silence, but make a violent effort to pronounce 
two words at any rate. Screwing up my mouth ac- 
cordingly in the proper circular form suited, as I 
thought, to exclaim the words NoN feci, I bellowed 
forth the first so immoderately loud that I set my 
pendulous lips a quivering. I repeated it several 
times successively, but alas ! nothing but NoN, NoN, 
NoN, NoN, was I able to ejaculate — not a particle of 
FECI could I utter, strain how I would. 

But why should I be at further pains to declaim on 
the cruel usage, nay, on the impudence of Fortune; 
which, not even contented with transforming me into 
an ass, had actually reduced me to the servile con- 
dition of my own horse's companion? To say the 
truth, while the above reflections were passing in 
my mind, another still more important consideration 
was at work within me, with regard to the sentence 
of death passed upon me by the robbers, and whenever 
occasionally I cast a side glance upon my flanks, my 
agitated imagination made me fancy my paunch already 
distended with the fair form of the damsel. 

The robber who had just related the false news 
concerning me, so soon as he had done speaking, un- 
ripped some stitches in his garments, and taking out 
a thousand pieces of gold, which he had concealed 
there, — money, as he said, taken from many different 
travellers, — he delivered them to his comrades, to be 

L placed in their chest for the common benefit. This 
done, he began to make particular inquiries relating 
L 2 



220 A NEW KECRUIT. Book VII. 

to the prosperity of the band ; to which they replied 
by announcing the death of some of their bravest 
companions, and informing him of many other severe 
casualties they had undergone. Hearing the above 
intelligence, he earnestly recommended his brethren to 
leave the highways in peace for a little while, and 
desist altogether from their predatory excursions until 
a sufficient number of young, new hands were re- 
cruited, and their martial force once more completed 
to its full complement. Were they to apply them- 
selves strenuously to this objeat, he said, "they would 
meet with little difficulty, since many might be com- 
pelled against their own will to enter their service, 
others by the aid of a bribe be induced to come of 
their own accord, and not a few would joyously re- 
nounce their former life of abject servility, to identify 
themselves with a sect, conferring a sort of regal dig- 
nity on all its members. He himself," he added, " had 
recently made acquaintance with a most suitable per- 
sonage, in age quite a youth, but of extraordinary 
stature, and corresponding strength ; he had talked to 
him a good deal," he said, *'and finally had persuaded 
him to use the advantages of health while he was yet able, 
and instead of letting his strong arms hang clumsily at 
his sides in idleness, or be stretched forth submissively 
to ask alms, employ them forthwith in the more manly 
purpose of clutching gold on the highway." All the 
robbers unanimously consented to this proposal, and 
agreeing to replenish their numbers, and take the 



Book VII. HIS HISTORY. 221 

necessary steps immediately to do so, applauded the 
speaker for what he had done. With regard to the 
new enlistment, they bade hiTin go bring the yoimg 
recruit to the cave as soon as possible. 

So soon as the robber had received the commands of 
his comrades, away he went, and remairung absent a very 
short time, returned agaia, bringing with him just such 
a person as he had described, — an enormous young man ; 
so big, in fact, that, as far as I could judge, there was 
not a single robber among them all to be compared to 
him. In addition to his bulk, he was a full head 
taller than any one, and yet his cheeks had only just 
begun to be covered with a downy beard. His clothes, 
consisting of different patches of cloth badly sewn 
together, hardly covered more than half his muscular 
body, which here and there, especially through rents 
and fissures about the breast and stomach, seemed 
bursting from confinement. So soon as he entered the 
cave he thus addressed the robbers: *'Hail! to you, 
brave gentlemen, clients of the noble Mars, now my 
faithful comrades. Willingly, I pray you, receive into 
your ranks one who willingly joins you; a feUow of 
stout, lively heart, like yourselves ; one who can take 
the slash of a sword more kindly than a handful of 
money, and fears not to meet — no, not even were it 
grim Death himself, who frightens everybody. By 
these ragged clothes, I pray you, judge not my valour ; 
for 'tis no abject pauper that stands before you, but the 
leader not long ago of a band of comrades, who, brave 



222 HIS HISTORY. Book VIL 

as the bravest of you all, ravaged all Macedonia. Even 
now all the province trembles at the name of Hsemus 
of Thrace ! The Eobber ! Son of the robber Thero ! 
''Educated, aye, nourished with human blood imder 
my father's tutelage, I lived among a troop of ban- 
ditti, zealous of my paternal prowess; though short 
hath been the period wherein I have lost many, many 
companions of my early youth, and vast wealth that 
I possessed. To make myself more intelligible, I 
will relate circumstances in order. An imperial func- 
tionary, factor or supervisor, holding various other 
public offices, and a favourite in the court of Caesar, 
in consequence of false, invidious, slanderous reports 
that prevailed against him, was suspended in all his 
employments, and ordered into exile. His wife Plo- 
tina, a woman of singular virtue, who, by giving birth 
to ten children, had already placed the family of her 
husband on a permanent foundation, now, determining 
to be his associate in misfortune and companion of his 
retreat, she cut off her hair, put on man's apparel, and 
intrepidly set forth on the journey. With a sum of 
money in gold, together with her most valuable jewels 
concealed in a girdle round her waist, she bade adieu 
to the charms and luxuries of the city, and, sur- 
rounded by the naked swords of the soldiers, who vigi- 
lantly guarded her husband, administered to his com- 
fort and his health in the character of one of his 
attendants. She had thus undergone extraordinary 
hardships by sea and by land with masculine courage. 



Book VII. HIS HISTORY. 223 

until being at sea, on their voyage to Zacyntlius,* which 
island evil destiny had determined upon as the place of 
banishment, they arrived at a part of the coast of 
Actium near Oratum,-j- and cast anchor at a time when 
our band had descended thither from Macedonia. There 
they went on shore, in order to escape the tossing 
of the waves in the vessel during the night, and 
took up their quarters in a small tavern. We accord- 
ingly, who happened that night to be roving in 
the vicinity in quest of plunder, attacked them, and 
took all they had. With difficulty we escaped from 
this tavern in safety; for the mistress, so soon as she 
heard the noise at the gate, ran into one of the bed- 
chambers, and not only turned the whole house topsy- 
turvy by her noise and clamour, but alarmed all the 
neighbours. She screamed out for the soldiers, called 
all her servants by their names, and made such a 
disturbance, that, were it not for the general panic she 
created, and that all the people rather strove to hide 
themselves than make resistance, we certainly should 
not have got away at all. 

" Immediately subsequent to the above event, that 
excellent wife, Plotina — for, to speak the truth, she 
was a pattern of female fidehty, and a most ac- 
complished lady — forwarded a memorial to Caesar, 
beseeching his imperial protection; whereupon the 

* The present Island of Zante. 

t Commentators have not precisely determined the position of 
Oratum or Orato. 



224 HIS HISTORY. Book VII. 

vengeance of the emperor was speedily directed against 
ourselves, and her husband was recalled from banish- 
ment. No sooner, in consequence of this memorial, had 
Caesar denounced the college of Hsemus the robber, than 
— mark the effect of a nod of the head from a potent 
prince — our band were forthwith hunted down, cut to 
pieces, destroyed and annihilated, by the imperial light 
cavalry. Tor my own part, thus it was, that with the 
utmost difficulty I contrived to make my escape, and 
sally forth, as it were, from the very jaws of Tartarus. 
My cheeks at that time being smooth and bopsh, I 
disguised myself like a woman, in a coloured dress, 
arranged in easy folds about the bosom; and having 
twisted a small turban, in female fashion, round my 
head, and put women's tliin white shoes upon my 
feet, I mounted, assuming the character of one of the 
weaker sex, on the back of an ass, and seated myself 
among some sheaves of barley. Covered and concealed 
as well as I was able, I passed through the middle of 
the ranks of the very soldiers in pursuit of us, who, 
though they might have perceived a puerile glittering 
on my upper lip, took me for the ass driver's wife, and 
allowed me to pass free. Hemmed in by martial blades 
on every side, I felt somewhat uneasy, although not 
forgetful even under those critical^circumstances of my 
own valour or my paternal glory, I contrived, alone 
and unassisted, under the protection of my female dress, 
to rob a few villas and castles by the way. And here 
is a little viaticum that I procured towards the expense 
of my journey.'* 



» 



Book VIT. HIS LIBERAL CONTRIBUTION. 225 

With that he threw aside his rags, and drew from 
his bosom a purse containing two thousand pieces of 
gold, which throwing on the ground in the midst of the 
robbers,—*' There," said he, ''take that bag of money, 
mine own donation, a freewill offering to your college, 
and take myself as your faithful and true leader, who 
will ere long, if so it please you, line this your rocky 
habitation with walls of gold." The young man here 
concluded his harangue ; and no sooner had he finished 
than the robbers, without a moment's doubt or hesita- 
tion, unanimously accepted his proposal, and received 
him as their leader. They then accordingly divested 
him in the first place of the garments he had on, and 
clothed him with others, which, though not so rich as 
those he threw off, improved his appearance mightily. 
When he had completely changed his dress, he kissed 
every one of his new companions in succession, and then 
was led to the table, and placed on the couch at the 
head of it. Presently, supper being served, they pro- 
ceeded to inaugurate his election with copious draughts 
of wine. 

During their repast the conversation among the 
robbers turned in the first place on the subject of the 
young damseFs flight, and the manner she had ridden 
away upon my back ; and then they talked about the 
monstrous death that both of us had been condemned 
to suffer ; upon which the new leader, having inquired 
where the damsel was confined, they conducted him to 
the place, and showed him her. When he saw her 

L 3 



226 CHOSEN LEADER. Book VII. 

heavily laden with chains, curling his nose with a con- 
temptuous air to those about him, he turned round 
on his heel and returned to the supper table. There 
the robbers immediately resumed their former conver- 
sation, upon which they were thus addressed by their 
new chief: — 

" I am not," said he, " so silly and void of expe- 
rience; nor, indeed, would I at all events be rash 
enough to oppose of my own authority a sentence that 
has been decreed by all of you unanimously. But my 
conscience, at the same time, prohibits me from conceal- 
ing from you my opinion on a subject relating to our 
mutual interest, and telling you candidly what, under 
present circumstances, I think ought to be done. Give 
me your attention for a few moments, and place con- 
fidence in the real solicitude I entertain for your pros- 
perity : and when you have perfectly understood the pro- 
posal I have to make to you, you may even then, should 
it chance to displease, return to your former determina- 
tion, and dispose of the young damsel and the ass as 
you think proper. Now, according to my opinion, 
there is one, of all other things in the world, that rob- 
bers, that is to say, all who call themselves sensible, 
considerate, accomplished robbers, ought to prefer to 
every other earthly object, to set even above their desire 
of vengeance — which, by the way, is frequently as 
detrimental to those who inflict it as to the suffering 
party — and, in short, make their whole and sole con- 
sideration. I mean money. A robber should alone 



Book VII. FATE OF THE DAMSEL AND LUCIUS. 227 

look to his pecuniary profit. For example ; with 
respect to the circumstances under consideration, we 
will suppose that as you have determined you kill 
the ass and sew up the virgin in his belly. Well; 
what do you gain thereby ? You gratify a sense of 
indignation — nothing more. On the other hand, the 
measure I would advise you to adopt is this. Send the 
maiden to some populous city, and there sell her for a 
slave. Young, and good looking, she would surely 
bring us a good round sum of money : nay, even among 
some of my former acquaintance, I think I could readily 
find a purchaser, in whose service she would not only 
afford to yourselves the satisfaction of revenge, biit ever 
be effectually prevented from making her escape. This 
is the counsel that, as it comes from my heart, I freely 
give you, though you yourselves are the responsible 
actors in your own deliberations." 

Thus did the egregious advocate of the robbers' fiscal 
revenue plead successfully, as it turned out, the cause 
of the virgin and the ass, although, during the con- 
siderable time they were coming to a decision, my 
spirit and bowels were much fretted by their long 
delay. However, at last they acceded to their new chiefs 
proposal, and the damsel was immediately released from 
her chains. While they were loosening her fetters in 
his presence and at the same time were talking about 
selling her for a slave, I observed the young woman's 
countenance become immediately overspread with a joy- 
ful smile, which inspired me with a feeling of indigna- 



228 A SACRIFICE TO MARS. Book VII. 

tion against tlie female sex altogether, seeing before 
me as I did — now rejoicing at tlie idea of being sold 
for a slave — a damsel whom, only a little while before, 
I had heard professing the most ardent attachment for 
the youth of her own choice, to whom she was betrothed 
in marriage. And thus it happened that for a few 
moments, the merits and the morals of the whole sex 
were depending on an ass's judgment, till my reflections 
were interrupted by an exclamation of the young chief 
to his comrades. — " Let us away to sell the damsel 
and procure new recruits," said he ; " and first, that our 
endeavours and our search may be crowned with suc- 
cess, let us supplicate the aid of our patron deity. Mars. 
Let us away I say, and procure at the nearest castle 
what we have instant need of : for we have neither a 
single sheep to sacrifice, nor wine to drink. Give me 
ten comrades for the service, and by Hercules, we'll 
bring you provisions enough to make a banquet for the 
SaHi." 

Ten comrades being immediately allotted to the new 
leader, they all departed without a moment's delay ; 
while, in the mean time, the remainder of the band em- 
ployed themselves in lighting an enormous fire, and 
erecting upon the green turf an altar to the god Mars. 
The robbers wrought with such assiduity that when 
their companions returned from the marauding party 
the work was already completed ; and no sooner had 
the others entered, bringing with them a quantity of 
wine in goat skins, and brandishing their sticks in the 



Book VII. GRAND SUPPER. 229 

air over the backs of the creatures they were hurrying 
on before them, than from among these they selected a 
great rough old he goat and immediately offered him 
up a sacrifice to Mars, their associate and swordsman. 

When the sacrifice was over, and while they were all 
preparing a splendid supper, said the new chief to his 
comrades, " Now will I let you see, that not only can 
I lead an expedition, and am a good collector of booty, 
but know also how to provide for your pleasures, and 
lay out an entertainment. And with that he set to 
work lustily, and with extraordinary skill and alertness 
put everything in order. He swept the floor, arranged 
the couches, laid the table, seasoned the stews, and 
otherwise beautifully attended to the cookery. Espe- 
cially when they began to sup, he plied the part of 
butler to admiration, and supplied all his comrades with 
wine as fast as it ran down their throats. And in 
addition to all, he waited diligently on the young 
damsel into the bargain, nay, frequently under pretence 
of fetching something he had need of, carried her se- 
cretly the most delicate morsels taken from the robbers' 
table. But what displeased me mightily was, that not 
only she readily received all his ordinary attentions, 
but would smile upon him when, after previously 
taking a draught of wine himself, he presented her the 
cup. Once in particular, when he gave her the cup, 
I actually saw him kiss her!" " Shame on thee,- un- 
married maiden as thou art," thought I to myself* 
*'how canst thou be thujs forgetful of thy faithfiil 



230 INTERESTING DISCOVERY. Book VII. 

lover and thy nuptials ? How thus prefer a stranger 
and a cruel homicide to the youth, whomsoever he 
may be, that thy parents have designed for thee? 
What! doth not thy conscience upbraid thee, even 
while swords and lances are gleaming in thine eyes, 
thus to trample upon thine affections, and be guilty 
of such levity? If peradventure the robbers per- 
ceive thee, what will be the consequence ? Will 
they not return to their former sentence of sewing 
thee up in the ass's belly ? Wilt thou not be the 
means of bringing me to destruction, as well as thyself? 
Verily the game thou art playing is at the risk of 
another's skin." 

Thus reasoning with myself in consequence of the 
deep indignation I felt, I had continued to calumniate 
the damsel in the above strain for a considerable while ; 
at last I discovered, from certain ambiguous expressions 
that fell upon my ears, expressions, however^ that in the 
ears of a prudent jackass like myself were divested of 
obscurity, that the new made chief, so far from being 
Haemus the robber, was one Tlepolemus, her own 
bridegroom, paramour, and true lover. The fact 
grew clearer and clearer as their conversation pro- 
ceeded, till at last, paying no regard at all to my 
presence, " Sweetest Charity," said he, " take courage, 
and right speedily all thy enemies shall be thy 
prisoners." So saying, and returning to the table, 
where his companions, already overcome with wine, 
were in a state of crapulous intoxication, he plied 



Book VII. ESCAPE OF THE DAMSEL. 231 

them witk greater assiduity than before with pure 
unmixed wine warmed to a gentle heat over the fire, 
while he himself totally abstained from drinking. 
Nay, by Hercules, I have a suspicion he mixed some 
noxious soporiferous drug with their liquor, so quickly 
did every one of them, without a single exception, lie 
stretched upon the ground like dead — aye, buried in 
insensibility. They were so perfectly helpless, that 
the late chief Tlepolemus, now the young lady's lover, 
had not the least difficulty to do with them just as he 
pleased. Accordingly binding them hand and foot 
with very strong cords, and there leaving them, he 
lifted the young damsel on my back, and we proceeded 
on our way to their home. 

When, after a prosperous journey, we arrived at the 
city where the young damsel and Tlepolemus lived, the 
whole population, on learning the happy event of her 
return home, came out to meet us in a body ; and as 
we entered the streets, there came rushing out of their 
houses, and pouring forth their congratulations, parents, 
relatives, dependents, servants, slaves, persons of all 
ages and both sexes, forming altogether an assemblage 
of the most happy faces imaginable, and, by Hercules, 
a most memorable spectacle, — the triumphal procession 
of a maiden entering into her native city on the back 
of a donkey. For my own part, anxious to show that 
I anticipated in the general joy, and exhilarated by the 
masculine spirit within me, I pricked up my ears, 
snorted through my nostrils, and, bravely braying as 



232 TLEPOLEMUS DESTROYS THE ROBBERS. Book VII. 

loud as ever I was able, I raised a most thundering 
clamour. 

And now Tlepolemus, after leaving the young damsel 
at her parents' house, where caresses and all manner of 
comforts were showered upon her in profusion, departed 
forthwith on his return to the robbers' cave. He took 
with him myself and several other beasts of burden, 
driving us all together along the road accompanied by 
a crowd of the citizens ; and it was with exceeding 
willingness that I undertook this journey, for I was 
curious and longed much to see the robbers taken pri- 
soners, as they were very speedily. Finding them on 
our arrival even still more overpowered with the effects 
of wine than by the cords that bound their Hmbs, Tlepo- 
lemus, assisted by his companions, dragging most of 
them out of the cave without more ado, bringing them, 
confined by the ropes, just as they were, to the verge of 
the adjacent precipice, and throwing them over the 
height, they were dashed to pieces on the ground. As for 
the remainder, he cut off their heads with one of their 
own swords, and left them where they lay. This 
done, there was much rejoicing among the people at 
the act of vengeance inflicted, and we all returned to the 
city the way we came, joyftiUy laden, myself and all 
the other animals, with articles of gold and other trea- 
sure found and dug up^in the secret recesses of the cave. 
Tlepolemus, immediately on his return home, delivered 
over all the treasures taken from the robbers into the 
public treasury, and his marriage with the damsel, his 



Book VII. LUCIUS SENT TO FREE PASTURE. 233 

bride, whom he had retrieved, was solemnised under all 
the formalities of the law. 

From the time when the damsel was married and 
became a matron she bore me in continual remem- 
brance, took all possible care of me, and always called 
me her preserver. But, alas ! though by her own par- 
ticular order, even on the very day of her nuptials, my 
manger was filled to the brim with barley, and hay 
enough to satisfy the hunger of a Bactrian camel* laid 
before me, nevertheless, when I saw the pampered dogs, 
with distended paunches, bearing in their mouths the 
remaiQS of a delicious supper, dire indeed were my im- 
precations against Fotis, not only for having transformed 
me into an ass, but for not having, instead of an ass, 
made me a dog. The young bride, on the day after 
her marriage, was not less mindful of me than the day 
preceding. Quite the contrary ; she failed not to ex- 
plain to her parents and her husband the obligations 
she owed me, and they in consequence not only com- 
municated together themselves, but consulted several 
grave people, their acquaintance, as to the manner 
in which they could best award me an honourable 
retirement. Some were for having me shut up idle 
in the stable, continually provided with as much beans 
or vetches, with chopped barley straw, as I was able to 
devour. Others, with more regard to my liberty, pro- 
posed to send me into the country, to be turned loose 

* The dromedary. — Plin., viii. 18. 



234 LUCIUS'S DISAPPOINTMENT. Book VII. 

among the herds of horses, where, with full leave to 
range freely and sport about in the open fields, I might 
reward the masters of the mares with a noble progeny 
of mules, my descendants. Finally, the latter plan was 
determined on, and the master of the stud of horses 
being summoned accordingly, very particular instruc- 
tions, and a strict charge in my behalf, were given him, 
and I was led away. 

The place of my destination was at some distance 
from the city : however, I stepped gaily forward under 
the joyful anticipation of renouncing all manner of 
burdens for the remainder of my life, and of galloping 
about in perfect liberty, at least till the return of spring. 
When, thought I, ''so soon as the green tender grass 
begins to shoot in the meadows, there will be roses * in 
abundance. ' ' And I was further exhilarated by contrast- 
ing in my mind the honours, which even under the form 
of an ass I was now receiving, with the much greater 
and more substantial benefits, that, when 1 recovered 
my shape and once more became a man, I concluded 
would be heaped upon me. But alas, in spite of all 
such pleasing hopes I was doomed to bitter disappoint- 
ment, and so far from enjoying all the present delights 
I had calculated upon, was even deprived of my liberty. 
I had no sooner arrived at the house of the master 
of the stud, than his wife, a most avaricious wicked 
woman, considering that I was now a great way from 

* See pp. 93, 101. 



Book VIL LUCIUS PUT INTO A MILL. 235 

the city, and far removed from my patrons, instead of 
bestowing upon me tlie good food and kind attendance 
that had been decreed me, put me into a mill, and 
there wrought the bread for herself and all her family- 
out of my very hide. Not only did she compel me to 
labour hard in her own service, thresliing me con- 
tinually all day with a knotted stick, but extracted still 
further profit out of my circular revolutions, by 
grinding the corn of her neighbours for a mercenary 
remuneration. Nay, wretched creature that I was, 
notwithstanding the severe labour I performed, she did 
not even give me the food that her husband allotted 
to me: but when he served her out my barley, 
she drove me round and round till I had bruised and 
crushed it, and then, selling it to the neighbouring 
peasants, laid before me late in the evening, after I 
had been straining all day at the toilsome machine, 
unsifted bran, containing abundance of gritty earth and 
gravel stones. 

At last the egregious master of the stud of horses, 
a tardy listener to the commands of his lord, perhaps 
in order that at some future day I might, as they say, 
glory in the reward of my prowess abroad as at home, 
consigned me, as he had been told to do at first, to the 
companionsliip, so long postponed, of the herd of horses 
at pasture. But Fortune had, even now, cruel torments 
in store for me. For notwithstanding I had at length 
gained for a time perfect liberty, and though now so 
broken down in spirit and in strength, from the troubles 



236 LUCIUS PERSECUTED BY HORSES. Book VII. 

I had undergone, that I could scarcely lift one leg after 
another in a trot, was fiiUy desirous, as a frisky caper- 
ing jackass ought, of ingratiating myself in a becoming 
manner with the female leaders of equine society, — ^yet 
when I began gently prancing and making other suit- 
able demonstrations of my gallantry, my proceedings 
had weU nigh brought upon me utter destruction. For 
the horses, terrible creatures always, but now pampered 
and in tip top condition, setting at defiance the laws 
of Jupiter Hospitalis, and burning with jealousy 
against me as a rival, instantly made me the victim of 
unanimous persecution. One flinging his head and 
crest up into the air, and displaying on high his broad 
chest, pummelled me, like a pugilist, with his fore 
hoofs. Another suddenly wheeling round, and turning 
his broad, brawny, fat chine towards me, let fly at me 
with his hind ones. A third, laying back his ears, with 
a malignant squeak, and discovering an armory of 
white teeth, bit me in all parts of my body. In short, 
I was under such peril and trouble among them all, 
that I remembered the history I had read of the 
savage man eating horses * of a king of Thrace, who, 
powerful tyrant though he was, was mightily saving 
of his barley, and exposed his miserable guests to 
be lacerated and devoured by the voracious animals. 
Indeed, my enemies so worried and distracted me by 
their continual assaults that I would wilHngly have 

* Vide the Emperor's Cup won at Ascot, June, 1850, by the 
Earl of Eglinton. 



Book VII. BRINGS WOOD FROM THE MOUNTAINS. 237 

returned to the place whence I came, the roundabout 
in the mill. 

I did not however now remain long at pasture in 
the fields, for my evil destiny, ever insatiable in 
providing me with fresh torments, ordained that I 
should be removed from my present companions, and 
though not actually sent back to the mill, be afflicted 
with a new and no less grievance. I was now every 
day employed to bring in from the mountains, loads of 
wood, with a boy appointed for my driver, who, taking 
him for all in all, was one of the most mischievous, 
villainous rascals that ever existed. The mountain 
where 1 travelled up and down was exceedingly steep, 
and of great altitude, though it was not of fatigue or of 
the frequency of the stumps of trees and large stones 
that bruised my hoofs that I had so much to complain, 
as of the incessant blows of the stick with which he 
was for ever beating me. Invariably striking on the 
same identical spot on my off haunch, he soon produced 
a deep ulcerous cavity beneath the fractured skin, at 
which, and nowhere else, he always relentlessly ham- 
mered, as if he were knocking at a door or a window, 
till the thrilling acuteness of pain from the gory wound 
shot through my very marrow. Then the quantity of 
wood he put upon my back ; why, gentle reader, thou 
wouldst have said, hadst thou seen it, 'twere a fitter 
load for an elephant than a jackass ! Yet, notwith- 
standing, whenever the grievous pile happened to pre- 
ponderate on the right or on the left, and assuredly he 



238 A CRUEL DONKEY-DRIVER. Book VII. 

ought to have altogether relieved me from a few billets 
on the heavier side, or at least, after removing them, 
placed them on the lighter side, and so restoring the 
equilibriimi lessen the pressure on my back; he in- 
variably did no such thing. On the contrary, taking 
heavy stones up out of the road, he used to heap them 
on the lighter side till he remedied the inequality. 
E"either did my sufferings under my ill arranged, im- 
moderate burden, content him; but on every occa- 
sion when we crossed a river that lay in our way, 
although the weight of the wood was so great that I 
was nearly overpowered already, he would add to it 
the weight of his own small body, and forsooth to keep 
his feet from being wetted with the water, would jump 
up upon my loins, and sit there behind the load. Nay, 
more ; this egregious ass driver, if ever, happening to 
make a false step on the brow of a bank owing to the 
slipperiness of the clay, I fell down and was prevented 
from rising immediately by the weight upon my back, 
when he ought to have given me assistance by support- 
ing me with the halter, lifting me by the tail, or re- 
moving some of my load till I got on my legs again, 
did nothing at all to help me, however I might be 
fatigued. On the contrary, beginning at my head, or 
to speak more properly, at my ears, he belaboured me 
with a thick stick all over my body, till smarting with 
blows that stripped the hair from my sides, and fell 
thickly in a shower on my wounds in lieu of fomenta- 
tions, I was compelled to rise again by struggling and 
a more than natural effort. 



Book VII. LUCIUS FALSELY ACCUSED. 239 

On one occasion this same boy practised upon me a 
singular piece of cruelty. He got a parcel of tliorny 
bushes, of which the thorns were remarkably sharp and 
venomous, and fastening all together in a bundle, with 
a band of flexible twigs, he then, on purpose to put me 
to the torture, tied them under my tail. Consequently 
the misery that I endured was twofold ; for the thorns 
put me to severe pain, even when I walked gently along, 
but if, endeavouring to escape the punishment, I in- 
creased my pace, becoming agitated by the motion they 
wounded me still more grievously. If, on the con- 
trary, I hung back in order to lessen my suffering, 
the infamous urchin immediately fell upon me with 
his stick and forced me into a trot. In short, it 
seemed his sole object to be the death of me one way 
or other, and that object I heard him more than once 
swear he would accomplish. 

A little while after the above circumstance I had 
evident reason to be assured that his detestable malice 
was at all events stimulating him to commit more and 
more grievous outrages towards me, and particularly 
one day, he so exhausted my patience by his unbear- 
able insolence that I flung out both my hinder feet 
at him with my utmost force. Then he contrived the 
following terrible plot for my destruction. He hastily 
bound together with cords a quantity of hemp sufficient 
to make a good load, and placing it on my back drove 
me along the road. At the first house we came to he 
stole a live coal out of the fire and buried it in the 



240 LUCIUS FALSELY ACCUSED. Book VIL 

middle of the heap in such a manner that the fire, 
gradually nourished by the motion, lay dormant for a 
considerable period, till finally, becoming hotter and 
hotter by gentle degrees, it flared up all at once into a 
flame, and in a moment I was in a terrific blaze. 
"Whither could I fly for refuge or relief from the burn- 
ing pestilence? My chance of deliverance seemed 
hopeless ; neither was the midst of a fiery furnace a 
suitable place for deliberation. Fortune notwithstanding 
on the present occasion, whether or not merely for the 
sake of exposing me to other perils in future I will not 
say, viewed me at all events with a kindlier counten- 
ance than she had been used to do, and saved me fi-om 
the instant death threatened by the fatal contrivance. 
Perceiving all of a sudden close by, on the side of 
the road, a pool or receptacle of the mountain streams, 
that a quantity of rain that had fallen the preceding 
day had swollen to a considerable depth, at once, 
without a moment's hesitation, I plunged into it over 
head and ears, and made such a violent efibrt in 
doing so, that I not only succeeded in efiectually ex- 
tinguishing the fire, but ridded myself of every particle 
of my load into the bargain. Then I immediately 
walked out again most happily freed from both evils 
together. 

But the audacious boy, notwithstanding his own 
wicked doings were the cause of the loss of the load, 
laid the entire blame upon me, and told the shepherds 
and herdsmen ' ' that I had set the hemp in a flame on 



i 



Book VII. LUCIUS FALSELY ACCUSED. 241 

purpose, by wilfully throwing myself down upon the 
fire as I was passing one of the houses ;" therefore 
added he laughing, " Why should we any longer be at 
the pains to feed such a salamander ? " 

Nor was the last cruel manoeuvre the worst of the 
various schemes he meditated against me. A few days 
after the above occurrence, as I was being driven down 
the mountain with a load of wood as usual, he sold the 
load on my back to one of the cottagers on the way, 
and then leading me home unladen said I had grown 
so vicious he was unable to manage me ; and thus for 
the purpose of renouncing his miserable authority he 
pretended to grumble. " That lazy beast," said he, 
" well may you look at him, is indeed a jackass ! 
Aye, too much of the jackass is in him. Why, he 
kicks the load from off his back whenever he takes a 
fancy, and runs at me open mouthed as if about to 
devour ma In like manner the people who travel 
along the road are assailed by him, their clothes torn, 
and themselves grievously terrified. Wherefore I am 
sadly apprehensive on my own account, lest peradven- 
ture I myself be brought to punishment, owing to his 
truculent behaviour." Thus did my driver continue 
to impeach my harmless character, and tell such out- 
rageous lies of me, that deprivation of the faculty 
of speech in reply was rendered vehemently painful. 
At last he so far succeeded in stimulating the minds of 
the shepherds to my destruction, that said one, " 'twere 
well to put an end at once to such an ungainly brute," 

M 



242 SENTENCED TO DEATH. Boox VH. 

and ''liarkye boy," added he, " I'll tell thee what thou 
shalt do with him — cut Ms throat, throw his entrails to 
the dogs, preserve his flesh for the labourers' supper, 
and then we will sprinkle the hide with ashes, and 
tell our master, what he will readily believe, that a wolf 
killed him." 

The moment I heard the latter proposal I gave up 
all hope, and thought my fate was decided ; the more 
so as my inveterate accuser immediately began to whet 
his knife upon a whetstone, insulting me all the time 
under my cruel misfortunes. But while, with a coun- 
tenance joyful from revenge, remembering the kick I 
gave him a few days before, which, by Hercules, I was 
truly sorry did not kill him outright, he was thus pre- 
paring to perform the part of rural executioner of my 
sentence, one of the rustics among the crowd suddenly 
burst forth in an exclamation — " What ! " said he, " is 
it only because the ass hath vicious tricks that you 
are about to kill him ? 'tis a shame to lose the service 
of so good a brute for such a matter ! why, were he the 
most ferocious horse in existence, — -if you have a mind 
to believe what I tell ye, and will allow me time to go 
to the market yonder on an affair of business, and 
afterwards return home, to fetch a set of hobbles for 
his legs, — I warrant you, I will speedily make him 
harmless as a sheep, and fit for carrying burdens, or any 
other sort of work." 

Although by the above transmutation of my sentence 
I was rescued, at least for the present, from the hands 



Book VII. FRIGHTENED BY A BEAR. 243 

of Pluto, yet finding myself still doomed to further 
trouble, I began to reflect upon tbe means of ending 
my own existence; and finally I determined, ratlier 
than submit to more ill usage, that I would find a way 
to accomplish my death one way or another, and so 
preserve my body whole and sound, at all events. The 
next morning, while I was turning over in my mind 
whether I should throw myself over a precipice, or, 
by abstaining totally from food, should starve myself to 
death, or how I should proceed to fulfil my object 
otherwise, the boy, my tormentor, notwithstanding all 
that had happened, drove me up the mountain by our 
usual route. When we arrived on the summit of the 
acclivity, the boy diverged a little way from the road 
among the trees and bushes, in order to cut the wood 
with his axe, previous to putting the load on my back 
and bringing it home, leaving me tied up to a large 
pendulous branch of an oak tree. But, lo and behold, 
hardly had he got out of sight, when, all of a sudden, 
I perceived the enormous head of a great she bear, 
stealthily creeping out of a hole of the rock close by. 
Dreadfully startled at the unexpected apparition, I 
fiung up my head, reared upright, and throwing the 
entire weight of my body on my haunches, snapped 
my halter asunder, and immediately galloped away as 
fast as my legs could carry me. Eapidly borne along 
by the force of my hoofs down the steep, and stretching 
forward my body till every muscle was strained to the 
utmost, my speed was increased not' only by my terror 

M 2 



244 ESCAPE OF LUCIUS. Book VII- 

of the terrible bear, but from tKe desire to escape what 
was even worse than the bear itself, the cruel boy. 
Thus I continued recklessly to gallop on, till I reached 
the plains in the valley that spread itself out at the foot 
of the mountain, and then so soon as I found myself 
below upon the flat, slackened my pace. 

I had now proceeded gently a little way, when a 
certain traveller who happened to be going along the 
road on foot, perceiving me wandering about alone 
without a master, took an opportunity to catch hold of 
me, and then immediately leaping on my back, he began 
to beat me with the walking stick he carried in his hand. 
However, as the direction he required me to proceed 
in was along a blind path that diverged from the road, 
and, as I considered, gave me the means of escaping, as 
it were, from the hands of the butcher, I went that 
way very willingly. As regarded the blows of the stick, 
since I had lately been used to be beaten with much 
heavier sticks than his, I cared little about the matter. 
But the same pervicacious Fortune that had ever in- 
variably thwarted me in all my endeavours, now also 
laid fresh snares in my path, and, bestirring herself 
with cruel celerity, deprived me of the chance of de- 
liverance that seemed opportunely about to provide 
me with a place of concealment. For, by an un- 
lucky coincidence, the master of the stud of horses, 
my late possessor, having lost a heifer, and de- 
spatched several of his labouring servants in quest of 
it, the men, after following the pursuit through the 



BiyoK VII. LUCIUS RETAKEN. 245 

adjoining parishes, fortuitously came upon us at the 
very moment above referred to. Eecognizing me im- 
mediately, one of tliem, without more ado, seized me 
by the halter, and while my new rider continued to sit 
on my back, proceeded to drag me along in a direction 
different to that we were going. The stranger mean- 
while offered a stout resistance to their efforts, and 
calling all the Gods to witness the outrage, " What 
right have you to treat me thus violently ? " said he. 
" Why pull ye at my ass's halter ? Wherefore commit 
this assault upon me ? " 

" Commit this assault upon thee ? " replied they. 
"' What, dost thou, who hast stolen our ass, talk of our 
assaulting thee while thou art in the act of riding him 
away ? Why, thou hast met with too civil treatment 
for the like of thee. Truly, instead of complaining of 
our treatment, 'twere better to tell us of the ass's 
driver; for doubtless thou hast killed the boy, and 
hidden his body somewhere." 

With that they pulled him off my back, and threw 
him on the ground, and when they had got him down 
they began to beat him with their fists, and bruise him 
with their heels. Notwithstanding he protested all 
the time most earnestly and swore by all that was 
sacred that he had seen no driver, but, catching me 
while I was running away quite alone, without an 
owner, was merely in hopes of procuring a just reward 
for restoring me to my proprietor. " And oh, if the 
ass, which I wish I had never set eyes on, could but 



246 LUCIUS EETAKEN. Book VII. 

speak, and bear me witness," said he, " you would 
be sorry for tbe injury you are doing to an innocent 
man." 

All these asseverations produced no eiFect wliatever 
upon the minds of people so troublesome to deal with 
as the shepherds, but, seizing the stranger by the collar, 
they dragged him along with them up the side of the 
mountain, to the spot on the summit overgrown with 
trees, where the boy had been in the habit always of 
cutting his wood. When they had arrived there, they 
searched about the place for a considerable time with- 
out finding any traces of the boy they were looking 
for ; but at last they discovered the remains of a human 
body, torn limb from limb, which, on examination, 
evidently proved to be the body of my late driver. 
By Hercules ! I knew at once that the teeth of the 
bear had done the business ; and had the gift of speech 
been allowed me for a moment, would have said 
so at once. But, silent from necessity, all I could 
in silence I performed notwithstanding: I rejoiced 
from the bottom of my heart at the tardy act of 
vengeance. And now, as the body was scattered in 
various places about the ground, the shepherds having 
collected all the fragments they could find, and laid 
them together with difficulty in the best order they 
were able, they buried it in the earth. Which done, 
they securely bound the Kmbs of my Bellerophon, placed 
him again on my back, and drove me to their village, 
in order not only to lay their information against him 



Book VII, SENTENCE POSTPONED. 24:1 

as a stealer of cattle, but to bring him to condign 
punishment for having been imquestionably the cruel 
murderer of the boy. 

The morning after we arrived at the village, the 
culprit was about to be taken before the magistrates, 
as had been determined on, and the dead boy's parents 
were shedding tears incessantly and making a violent 
clamour with their lamentations, when the countryman 
who had promised to exercise his skill at the expense 
of my sufferings arrived mth the hobbles for my feet, 
true to his appointment. So soon as the parents per- 
ceived the latter personage, said one of them, " Truly 
we cannot trouble ourselves in our present condition, 
neither hath our loss aught to do with thee or thy 
errand. Abide thee therefore here until to-morrow, 
and then, forsooth, provided thou art so disposed, we 
and all the rest of us will help thee to serve the ass as 
thou wilt, — aye, cut its cursed head oiF." 

Thus did it happen that my sentence was postponed 
for one more day. Thanks to the goodness of the boy, 
who, at least, after he was dead and for the space 
of one short day, preserved me from the hands of the 
executioner. Short, however, as it turned out, was 
the period during which I was able to congratulate 
myself on the enjoyment of tranquillity ; for while I 
was quietly standing in my stable, the mother of the 
boy, dressed in black, her head sprinkled with ashes, 
and tearing out her grey hair by the roots with both 
her hands, suddenly burst open the door, and making 



248 CRUELLY BEATEN. Book VIL 

a violent noise by crying and sobbing and bewailing 
the loss of her son, she thus addressed me in a loud 
screaming voice, beating her bosom all the wliile : — 

" Look at liim," said she, beginning to speak the 
instant she stepped over the threshold. "Aye, look 
at him ! Eating, for ever eating ! Hanging over his 
manger in perfect security ; thinking of nothing at 
all but filling his profound, insatiable belly! What 
hath he but his own voracious appetite to provide for ? 
What careth he for his deceased master's melancholy 
fate ? ^Vhat trouble hath he in my sorrow ? What ! 
Doth he hold in contempt my age and my sex's weak- 
ness, and think, after the crime he hath committed, to 
escape with impunity ? Or doth he actually pre- 
simie himself innocent? Truly the presmnption of 
innocence and security contrary to the dictates of 
an evil conscience is compatible with the most 
wicked of enterprises. But by my faith in all the 
gods, thou most infamous of quadrupeds, even hadst 
thou the power of speech given thee for the purpose, 
thou wouldst not be able to persuade me ; no, nor the 
most simple being on earth, that thou thyself art not 
to blame for the atrocious deed that hath been com- 
mitted. Couldst thou not have defended my wretched 
boy with thy teeth? Couldst thou not have battled 
for him with thy fore feet ? Ah, no ! Thou couldst 
not save at the point of death him whom thou thyself 
wert ready and nimble enough many times to fling 
thy heels at. Nay, thou that couldst have taken him 



Book VII. CRUELLY BEATEN. 249 

on thy back and rescued him from the gory grasp of 
the robber, hast on the contrary shaken from off thee, 
and left deserted and alone, while thou hast fled 
away by thyself, thy m^aster, thy companion, thy 
fellow servant, and the friend that fed thee. But I 
will let thee know, that those who neglect to preserve 
a fellow subject from death commit a crime 'contra 
bonos mores, ^ punishable by the law. Thou homicide, 
little reason shalt thou have to rejoice in the death of 
my child, and speedily shalt thou see that grief hath 
not deprived me of my natural strength." 

The infuriated woman had no sooner pronounced 
the latter words, than, inserting her hands beneath her 
robe, she undid her girdle, and with it firmly bound 
my feet, apart from one another, in such a manner as 
to deprive me of the power of revenging myself Then 
seizing the pole that was used to fasten the stable door, 
she did not cease to beat me with it till her strength 
was so utterly exhausted that she could wield the 
weapon no longer, and it fell from her hands on the 
ground by its own weight. When she felt herself 
unable to inflict more blows upon me, complaining of 
the too sudden weariness of her arms, she ran into the 
house for a burning firebrand, and thrust it under my 
tail ! And now indeed the ass would have perished 
like another Meleager, victim of the delirious Althea, 
simultaneously with the extinction of the burning 
billet, had not kind nature on the present, as on a 
former occasion, under a similar emergency, notwith- 

M 3 






250 RIDS HIMSELF OF HIS ASSAILANT. Book VII. 

standing my legs were firmly bound, and I was other- 
wise without the means of defence, rendered me 
opportune assistance in the critical juncture, and en- 
abled me by means of a vehement internal effort to rid 
myself of my reckless assailant. 



Book VIII. ARRIVAL OF A SERVANT OF CHARITY. 251 



BOOK VIII. 

Arrival of a Servant of Charity. 

Sixth Episode. — Death of Charity and Tlepolemus. 

Flight of the Master of the Stud of Horses with Lucius and the 
other Animals — Wol-ves — A Miraculoiis Adventure in the 
Valley — Arrival at Night in a Village. 

Seventh Episode. — Singular Punishment of a Criminal. 

Lucius sold at a Fair — A Eeligious Impostor — Dancing 
Priests of the Syrian Goddess — Their Impostures — Hos- 
pitably received in a great City — Lucius has a narrow 
escape of his Life. 

The cocks had just begun to crow tlie next morning, 
when there arrived at the house of the master of the 
stud of horses a young man, whom I soon perceived to 
be one of the servants of the young damsel Charity, 
the companion of my troubles among the robbers. He 
was the bearer of a wonderful and tragical account of 
her death, and of the destruction of her whole house- 
hold, which sad story, seating himself before the fire, 
he related to a number of his fellow servants assembled 
on the spot, in the following terms : — 



252 SIXTH EPISODE. Book VilL 



SIXTH EPISODE. 

DEATH OF TLEPOLEMUS AND CHARITY. 

Grooms, shepherds, and herdsmen, said the young- 
man, our poor young mistress. Charity, is alas no 
more ! Neither hath she descended to the shades below 
without a companion. But in order that you may 
know the circimistances of the dreadful accident, I will 
relate to you from beginning to end everything as it 
happened ; and then some one among you more learned 
than myself, some one whom fortune hath gifted with 
the power of using the pen, may put down the history 
in a fit manner on paper as it ought to be written. 

At a little distance from the place of our abode, in 
a neighbouring city, there dwelt a youth of the eques- 
trian order. He was of noble birth and sufficiently 
wealthy ; but he haunted taverns, continually drank to 
excess, fell into the company of bad men and women, 
and finally becoming the associate .of a band of robbers, 
stained his hands with human blood. His name was 
Thrasyllus, and his character was such as I have told 
you. This ■ man, so soon as Charity had come to 
woman's estate, used all the means in his power to 
obtain her hand in marriage, and becoming one of her 
principal suitors, made many and splendid presents to 
the parents of the young lady. But in spite of all 



I 



Book VIII. SIXTH EPISODE. 253 

these presents, and notwithstanding he was of a more 
iUiistrious family than any other of his rivals, he 
suffered the indignity of being rejected in consequence 
of his bad reputation. Now, when our master's 
daughter was betrothed to the good Tlepolemus, the 
thwarted love of Thrasyllus became mingled with in- 
dignation at his disappointment; but nevertheless, he 
still continued to nourish the flame in his bosom, deter- 
mining to accomplish a terrible and bloody deed on a 
fit opportunity. Girding himself therefore for the 
undertaking whenever an occasion should present itself; 
on the day when, in consequence of the courageous 
scheme of Tlepolemus, the damsel, escaping from the 
swords of the robbers, entered her native city, Thra- 
syllus, among the persons of all descriptions who came 
forth to meet her, was foremost in his congratulations. 
Mixing among the crowd with a demeanour apparently 
more joyful than any of the rest, he testified to both 
the happy pair his delight at their safety, his good 
wishes for the prosperity of themselves and their 
future offspring, and personated to the utmost extent 
the character of a faithful friend. In short, he con- 
cealed his nefarious intentions so thoroughly, and alto- 
gether performed his part with such success, that partly 
on his own account, and partly in consideration of his 
noble family, he was received among the principal 
guests into the house of our master. 

Now, when admitted to terms of greater intimacy, 
he became a frequent guest at the table of the young 



254 SIXTH EPISODE. Book VIII. 

married people subsequent to their marriage, it naturally 
happgied that in consequence of continual and unre- 
served conversation, without being himself aware of his 
own condition, he fell more deeply enamoured than ever. 
Never, indeed, did it happen otherwise ; for the flame 
of cruel love, delighting in the beginning with a gentle 
glowing warmth, bursts forth, when cherished by ac- 
quaintance, in an immoderate conflagration, and tho- 
roughly overwhelms its victims. For a long time 
Thrasyllus deliberated with himself the means of pro- 
curing a clandestine interview with the object of his 
passion; but her attendants were numerous and ob- 
servant, her affection for her husband, increasing day 
by day, was indissoluble; and her .total ignorance in 
the art of deception would have rendered her per- 
fectly incapable of deceiving him, even had she wished 
to do so — a thing impossible to be imagined. But 
in spite of the impossibility, Thrasyllus, in propor- 
tion as his infatuation grew stronger and stronger, 
paying gradually less regard to the difficulties that 
at the beginning imposed a full restraint upon his 
ardour, at last considered the obstacles in his way 
capable of being easily overcome; and instigated by 
reckless obstinacy, resolved to execute the deed he had 
in contemplation. And now I will relate to you, and 
I beseech you listen attentively, how he was hurried 
forward, by the maddening impulse of his love, to pro- 
duce the fatal catastrophe. 

One day Tlepolemus took Thrasyllus with him as his 



Book VIII. SIXTH EPISODE. 255 

companion out hunting — not indeed to searcli for wild 
beasts, unless, indeed, there be aught of savage nature 
in the roebuck ; at all events none other horned crea- 
ture, nor any of the wild animals that have terrible 
teeth, would Charity ever allow her husband to pursue. 
However, they left home on the day appointed to amuse 
themselves in the chase, and had arrived on an elevated 
spot where was a wood planted with trees, whose wide 
spreading branches shaded a large surface of ground. 
In order to start the roebucks in their lairs, the high 
bred hounds were thrown into this wood, whose cir- 
cumference the hunters had taken the precaution to 
block up with nets all round at the various issues into 
the fields ; and no sooner were they in the covert, than 
with a cunning recollection of their discipline they im- 
mediately separated, and spread abroad in such a manner 
as to surround every avenue. And now behold among 
the hounds there arose a gentle muttering, and then 
anon, at a sudden signal from one hound in particular, 
all together at once burst forth in an impetuous disso- 
nant crash, that overwhelmed all mortal surrounding 
objects in the general clamour. 

But it was not a roebuck, nor timid doe, nor hind, 
of wild animals the gentlest of all, that had uprisen, but 
an enormous fat boar — a boar such as with regard to 
size the like was never seen. Covered with rough 
hair, his brawny collar splashed with mire, the bristles 
of his spine erect, foaming at the mouth, gnashing his 
tusks, and darting threatening glances from his blood- 



256 SIXTH EPISODE. Book VIII. 

shot eyes, lie came rushing along like a thunderbolt. 
With the foremost and highest couraged hounds close 
upon his haunches, casting them to the right and to the 
left lifeless and wounded from his tusks, he bolted at 
the obstacle that opposed him, trampled the nets under 
his feet, and passed clean through at the point of his first 
assault out into the open field. We of the family of 
Tlepolemus, perceiving the boar break out of the covert, 
being unaccustomed to other hunting than of a harmless 
description, and not provided with arms and imple- 
ments proper for the emergency, were all seized with a 
panic, and ran away and hid ourselves behind the trees, 
or wherever we were able. But the moment had now 
arrived when Thrasyllus, determining to carry into 
execution liis long designed scheme of treachery, thus 
in deceitful language addressed Tlepolemus : — " What," 
said he, " are we to stand here in a state of fear and 
stupor, and see such a splendid animal as yonder 
boar escape from us ? Are our hands, like those of our 
cowardly servants, paralysed? Shall we behave our- 
selves like a couple of timid women ? Let us to horse 
forsooth, and speedily pursue the monster. Here, take 
a javelin. As for me, I have a spear." 

So soon as Thrasyllus liad pronounced the above 
words, without waiting a moment, he and Tlepolemus 
sprang on their horses, and forthwith urged the ani- 
mals to their utmost speed in pursuit of the boar. 
And now the monster, finding his antagonists approach- 
ing, conscious of his natural strength, and burning 



Book VIII. SIXTH EPISODE. 257 

with ferine rage, first for a few paces slackened his 
speed, and then turned round to bay. Now did Tle- 
polemus, while the monster was gnashing his tusks and 
hesitating which of the hunters to rush at first, wound 
him with his javelin in the back; but Thrasyllus, 
sparing the beast, smote the horse that Tlepolemus 
rode with the edge of his spear, and divided the sinews 
of his haunches. The quadruped, sinking to the ground 
on his quarters, and then rolling over on his back in 
a pool of his own blood, involuntarily unseated his 
master, whom instantly the raging boar attacked as he 
lay. Tlepolemus, his clothes torn, and himself wounded 
by the tusks of the savage animal in several places 
before he had time to rise, called aloud for assistance to 
his false friend Thrasyllus ; but Thrasyllus, intent on 
his nefarious enterprise, viewed with unconcern the 
spectacle of the danger, and instigated by insatiable 
cruelty, while Tlepolemus was earnestly crying for 
help, and endeavouring to cover his lacerated legs, 
drove the point of his spear through and through the 
right thigh of his companion. Which act he committed, 
and left him to perish, with the greater confidence, 
thinking the wound would be attributed to the tusks of 
the boar. Then he transfixed the body of the animal 
with his weapon, and despatched him easily. 

When Tlepolemus was slain, and the boar lay dead, 
we, the servants of our master's family, being instantly 
called from our hiding-places, were overwhelmed with 
sorrow, and immediately hastened to the spot where 



258 SIXTH EPISODE. Book VIII. 

tliey were. There Thrasyllus, inwardly joyful at the 
completion of his design, and the prostration of his 
rival, personated, by the doleful expression of his 
countenance and otherwise, the appearance of excessive 
grief, and most affectionately embracing the body that 
his own hand had turned into a corpse, and men- 
daciously ascribing the deed to the boar's tusks, imitated 
the natural, spontaneous sorrow of ourselves, and per- 
formed most artfully — save by the shedding of the tears, 
which refused to flow — all the duties of a mourner. 

And now winged Fame, freighted with the news, 
and about to spread abroad the melancholy tale in 
various places throughout the land, having first borne 
it to the house of the deceased Tlepolemus, the unhappy 
bride, the moment it fell on her ears from the lips of 
the messenger — alas ! never will she hear the like 
again — started instantly away in a sudden fit of frenzy, 
and running through the populous streets at a furious 
rate, as if out of her senses, rushed out of the town like a 
Bacchante, and pursued her reckless course along the road 
and fields lamenting her husband's sad fate whithersoever 
she went after the manner of the insane. The citizens, 
aroused and alarmed also at the intelligence, instantly 
sallied forth from their houses, and attracted together 
simultaneously by grief from opposite directions to 
meet the coming spectacle, proceeded in numerous 
difierent groups, until the whole city was evacuated. 
At last, behold, there appeared before the eyes of the 
multitude the dead body of Tlepolemus, and, stretched i 



Book VIIL SIXTH EPISODE. 259 

prostrate upon the corpse. Charity, so far deprived 
of sense and motion, that well-nigh had she already 
rendered up the life devoted to her husband, — that 
life which now, when dragged away with difficulty by 
her attendants, she retained unwillingly. 

And now when, after a short interval, the funeral 
procession proceeded to the sepulchre, accompanied by 
all the inhabitants of the city, the increasing joy of 
Thrasyllus readily supplied the tears that grief had 
hitherto refused to yield ; he vociferated more loudly, 
beat his bosom more severely than any of the other 
mourners, and deceived truth itself by the terms of 
endearment addressed to the deceased, whom he called 
" the companion of his boyhood, his comrade, his 
friend," and then his sorrow would seem to burst forth 
anew as he added — " his brother." Nay, ever and 
anon, he would turn towards Charity, take her by the 
hand to prevent her from striking her bosom ; would 
appear to comfort her ; and as if to blunt the poignancy 
of her despair, would talk to her in eloquent language 
of the vicissitudes of Fortune, — using, in short, under 
the cloak of piety, all possible means to improve his 
intimacy with the bereaved, and adopt the course of 
behaviour best suited to nourish his detestable love. 
But at last the mournful obsequies were completed ; 
and so soon as the ceremony was over. Charity, whose 
only earthly wish was now to go the way of her 
departed husband, and follow him to the grave, began 
immediately to use every possible endeavour to effect 



260 SIXTH EPISODE. Book VIII. 

her settled purpose. Adopting a slow and gentle 
method in the beginning, a method calculated without 
the aid of mortal weapon to merge the senses in the 
placid sleep of Death, she refused all manner of sus- 
tenance, and shutting herself up in her chamber, with 
dishevelled hair, disordered dress, and in total dark- 
ness, would there have relinquished both light and 
life together, had not Thrasyllus, through her parents, 
attendants, and the friends of the family, succeeded, 
by unceasing perseverance, in prevailing upon her to 
abandon her determination. Yet it being a rigid ex- 
ercise of duty, against her own inclination, and a sense of 
religious veneration towards her parents, that caused her 
to succumb, she resumed — with a countenance, indeed, 
somewhat more serene, but with a heart not less deeply 
immersed in sorrow — the offices of the living. Her 
limbs, already in a state of almost deadly collapse, were 
refreshed in the bath, and she took some nourishment. 

But Despair, overspreading her bosom, devoured 
her spirit and her strength, while her regrets, last- 
ing both night and day, were slowly consuming 
her vitals. Gazing continually on a picture of her 
deceased husband, that, painted in the costume of 
Bacchus, she treated with divine honours for the sake 
of consolation, the spectacle was itself a torture. 
Yet did Thrasyllus, instigated by his reckless, headlong 
spirit, before tears had drained the sources of her 
misery, before the furious agitation of her wounded 
heart had subsided, before inveterate grief, grown old, 



Book VIII. SIXTH EPISODE. 261 

liad perished from the length of its duration, — while 
still she was bewailing her lost husband, still rending 
her garments and still tearing her hair,' — audaciously 
declare the secret of his heart, disclose his ineffable 
treachery, and venture to offer marriage. Charity 
shuddered at the sound of a voice she detested and 
abhorred. The avowal came upon her like the blast 
of a malignant planet or a clap of thunder. A cloud 
enveloped her senses, and as if struck by the red bolt 
of Jupiter, she fell to the ground motionless. 

Awakening at last from a long protracted swoon 
with a piercing scream, and relapsing at frequent in- 
tervals to a state of unconsciousness, it was not till 
after the lapse of some days while she continued occa- 
sionally to utter wild and lamentable cries, that, as her 
*^eason gradually recovered its sway by slow degrees, 
the scene that had passed with Thrasyllus became re- 
vived in her recollection. Deliberating with herself 
as to the steps that in prudence she ought to pursue, 
having referred the proposal of Thrasyllus to the con- 
sideration of her parents, and having appealed to their 
acute wisdom for counsel in her dilemma, she retired 
to rest one night in a state of grievous agitation, and 
had scarcely closed her eyes when suddenly the ghost 
of the miserably murdered Tlepolemus stood in the 
presence of his faithful widow. And thus, slowly 
raising the head that reclined on its bosom and disclos- 
ing its pallid blood-stained features to the view of 
Charity, the apparition addressed her : — 



262 SIXTH EPISODE. Book VIII. 

'' Oh, my wife ! and wife none else can call thee, while 
the memory of thy spouse hold a place in thy bosom — 
if time obliterate the remembrance of the bonds of our 
mutual affection broken by my calamitous death — wed 
happily whomsoever thou wilt, — save Thrasyllus. 
Neither recline at his table nor give him thy conversa- 
tion. Bestow not thy sanction on the nuptials, nor share 
the bed of a fratricide. Beware lest thou fall into the 
sacrilegious blood-stained hands of Thrasyllus — thy 
husband's murderer ! The wound whence thy tears 
washed away the blood, the wound that hath made me 
an alien to thee, not the tusk of the boar, but the spear 
of Thrasyllus inflicted." The ghost having pronounced 
the above words, and others in addition that fully en- 
lightened the mind of Charity as to all the circum- 
stances of the nefarious crime, then immediately dis- 
appeared, and Charity vainly endeavoured to compose 
herself to sleep; but alas, while her face pressed the 
pillow, and the flowing tears wetted her beautiful 
cheeks, whenever, after a bitter period of sorrow, she 
began to close her eyes, starting up in sudden agony, 
and all her wretchedness bursting forth anew, she 
would tear her night-dress, beat her lovely arms with 
the palms of her hands, and scream aloud. 

And now days and nights had passed away, and 
Charity, burying in the depths of her own bosom the 
secret of the murder, had revealed to no living mortal 
the story of her husband's apparition ; when at last she 
determined in silence to be rid of her unhappy life, and 



Book VIII. SIXTH EPISODE. 263 

to punish the wicked murderer. • Accordingly when 
again, after a considerable interval, the detested suitor 
appeared in her presence to renew his proposals, and 
pour forth protestations on her deafened ears ; assum- 
ing with wonderful subtilty an air of courteous cle- 
mency, as if she would at once encourage and postpone 
his suit, she interrupted his anxious and submissive 
entreaties by thus addressing him : — " Alas !" said she, 
" the fair countenance of my dearest husband is still 
before my eyes. Still through my nostrils do I inhale the 
perfume of his wedding garments — still is Tlepolemus, 
the figure of the beautiful Tlepolemus, alive in my 
bgsom. Well therefore wilt thou consult thine own 
interests, nay, minister to thy safety, wert thou to 
allow a wretched woman sufficient time to expend her 
grief Wait until the whole period of a year, from the 
day of the funeral, be completed, not only because the 
delay be required from regard to decency, but lest, per- 
adventure, by a premature marriage, the indignation of 
my husband's manes be aroused against us." 

The promise conveyed by the above words of Charity 
by no means pacified Thrasyllus, nor brought his mind 
to reason. On the contrary, he reiterated his entreaties 
more violently than ever, and persisted to wound her 
heart by obstinate perseverance. At last Charity feel- 
ing herself compelled to dissemble still farther, pre- 
tended to be overcome, and thus addressed her perse- 
cutor : — " Weil then, Thrasyllus, since it were impos- 
sible not to yield to thy request, I will consent to marry 



264 SIXTH EPISODE. Book VIII. 

tliee on condition that the ceremony of our nuptials be 
performed in private, and that our marriage remain 
profoundly secret until the period of a year." Thra- 
syllus, completely deceived, agreed to the clandestine 
arrangement without hesitation, while Charity proceeded 
as follows: — "My nurse," said she, ''shall be my 
confidante. On the evening of to-morrow disguise thy- 
self, and wait patiently till the first watch of the night. 
Then come, but come alone, into the street overlooked 
by my nurse's apartment. There remain, and a signal 
shall be given thee from the window. At the sound 
of a single whistle be in readiness, for then shall 
she admit thee to our dwelling, and lead thee to 
a place of concealment where thou wilt remain till 



Thrasyllus, overwhelmed with fatal joy at the expec- 
tation of liis nuptials, passed the whole of the next day 
in turbid impatience, and so soon as the sun had sunk 
upon the horizon betook himself disguised, as he had 
been directed, to the street in front of the nurse's apart- 
ment. There querulously lamenting the tardy lapse of 
time, while he waited the appointed signal — at last, at 
the sound of tlie whistle, as agreed upon, Thrasyllus, 
elated with hope and confidence, and void of all 
manner of suspicion, was led by the crafty old woman 
into her own apartment; where following implicitly 
the directions received from her mistress, she received 
him with soft and flattering words, and provided for his 
entertainment with an air of profound secrecy. Ac- 



Book VIII. SIXTH EPISODE. 265 

cordinglj, wHle slie pretended to lament the protracted 
arrival of her mistress, producing a flagon of wine and 
wine cups, which she said she had prepared on purpose, 
she easily prevailed upon Thrasyllus to avail himself of 
the intoxicating contents of the vessel. Meanwhile, 
like a parent hanging over the couch of a sick child, 
anxiously stimulating him to repeat the beverage, the 
soporiferous drug infused in the liquor, of which he 
swallowed copious draughts not unwillingly, produced 
its dire efiect, and Thrasyllus, overwhelmed with pro- 
found sleep, lay helplessly stretched on his back in a 
senseless state of lethargy. 

Then did the nurse immediately betake herself to the 
apartment of her mistress Charity, and Charity, prompt 
to the summons of her attendant, hurried speedily to 
the spot where Thrasyllus lay. Standing over the 
assassin, her mind wrought to a pitch of masculine 
courage, and her lips quivering with rage, she thus 
addressed him : — ''^ What ? Faithful friend of my Tle- 
polemus ! egregious hunter ! tender husband, — as fain 
thou wouldst have been, of mine own ! — is it thus with 
thee at last? Lo, there the right hand that shed 
blood dear to me ! There yon bosom, the source of 
treacherous plots for my destruction ! There the eyes, 
that to my sorrow I delighted, now with prophetic 
foresight of their destiny closed in darkness ! Sleep on, 
Thrasyllus ! Indulge in security thy dreams of joy ! 
Neither shall sword nor spear harm thee ! Ah, no ; 
the heavenly powers forbid. For then, at least in the 

N 



266 SIXTH EPISODE. Book VI II- 

manner of thy death, wouldst thou resemble my Tle- 
polemus. Dream on, Thrasyllus ! Nought ever more, 
save when thou dreamest, shall those eyes behold ! Thy- 
self shall live, but thine eyes by this hand shall perish ! 
Thy days shall be sightless, and the miserable death of 
my Tlepolemus happiness to thy life hereafter ! Never, 
no never, wilt thou revel in thy expected nuptials! 
Deprived of mortal pleasures, without a friendly hand 
to lead thee. Charity shall be far, far away from thee ! 
Neither shall the repose of death comfort thee ; 
but like a shadowy phantom 'twixt the light of the 
sun and Tartarus shalt thou be a helpless wanderer ! 
Nay, and to sharpen the sting of thy misery thou shalt 
live in ignorance of thine enemy. Long and vainly 
shalt thou seek to know the hand that smote thine eye- 
balls. The blood of thine eyeballs pierced by these 
sacred hands shall be a libation on the sepulchre of my 
Tlepolemus, and propitiate his manes ! But wherefore 
delay ? The hand now lifted like a pestilence o'er thee 
is thine in imagination. Why then defer thy torture ? 
Upraise thy vacant countenance to comprehend thine 
own misfortune, to compute the compass of thy wretch- 
edness! Eouse thee, I say, from the shades of som- 
nolency to blacker penal darkness. Thus will I wreak 
my vengeance by thy agony. Thus shall thine eyes 
delight the senses of a virtuous wife. Thus shall the 
torch of Hymen illuminate thy nuptials. Blindness shall 
be thy bride ; the Furies thy bridemaids, and their whips, 
perpetually stinging thee, thine own conscience." 



I 



Book VIII. SIXTH EPISODE. 267 

When Charity had pronounced the above words in a 
tone of enthusiasm, nearly amounting to divine inspira- 
tion, she immediately drew out the long pin that 
transfixed her hair, and darted it into both the eye- 
balls of Thrasyllus; then seizing a naked sword, the 
sword that Tlepolemus used to wear, she rushed out 
of the house, and hurried through the streets at an 
accelerated pace, evidently meditating some dire catas- 
trophe. Meanwhile Thrasyllus, writhing in bitter 
agony, started, stone blind and in a state of unconscious- 
ness, from crapulous lethargic sleep, and as Charity 
pursued her reckless course straight to the tomb of her 
husband, we the servants of her house and many 
of the citizens, who hastened from their houses on the 
alarm, vied with one another in eagerness to follow 
and wrest the weapon from the hands of the infuriated 
damsel. Nevertheless, in spite of our endeavours, 
Charity succeeded in reaching the destined spot, and, 
having arrived there, speedily assumed her post at the 
head of Tlepolemus's sepulchre. When she had re- 
mained for a little while listening to the abundant 
expressions of grief and attachment uttered by all 
around her, and waving the gleaming blade of the sword 
in order to prevent the people from approaching, she 
thus addressed the multitude : — 

" No more of tears, oh citizens ! No more of grief 
— of grief ill suited to my desperate resolve. The 
cruel murder of my husband I have vindicated. The 
fell destroyer of my nuptials I have punished. Now 

n2 



268 SIXTH EPISODE. Book VIII. 

with this sword will I seek the shades below, and go 
to my Tlepolemus." 

So saying, and having farther related to the people 
in due - order everything relating to the appearance of 
the ghost, and the stratagem she had had recourse to in 
order to inveigle Thrasyllus, she instantly stabbed 
herself underneath the right breast with such force that 
the sword went through and through her body. Falling 
to the gTound bathed in her blood, mattering a few 
unintelLigible words and courageous to the last gasp, 
she breathed forth her ardent spirit. 

The body of the unfortunate wife having been 
hastily washed, and placed by her attendants in the 
same tomb with her husband, ThrasyUus, when suffi- 
ciently recovered to know what had happened, 
conscious that death inflicted by the point of the 
sword was, for a crime such as he had committed, an 
inadequate punishment, immediately caused himself to 
be led to the sepulchre of Tlepolemus. When he had 
arrived there, he desired the doors to be opened, which 
done, he entered within, and then ha™g exclaimed 
several times successively, ' ' Manes of the injured dead, 
behold your wilHng victim," he requested the aperture 
to be closed upon him with solid masonry. There, 
accordingly, condemned by his own sentence, he 
perished of starvation. 



END OF SIXTH EPISODE. 



J 



Book VIII. FLIGHT OF MASTER OF THE STUD. 269 

The servant of Charity having concluded his melan- 
choly tale, heaved a deep sigh, while his rustic hearers, 
who had listened to the misfortunes that had befallen 
the house of their patron with intense interest and 
sympathy from beginning to end, showed manifest 
and vehement tokens of commiseration. Indeed, they 
felt so strongly on the occasion that, influenced by the 
consequences likely to accrue to themselves from the 
sad occurrence, and particularly from the apprehension 
of being handed over to a new master, they immedi- 
ately made up their minds to take flight from the 
place where they were, and seek another domicile. 
Among them all, the master of the stud of horses, who 
had so faithfrdly fulfilled his obligation towards me 
after I was committed to liis care, was first and fore- 
most in making preparations for a hasty departure, and 
diligently employed himself running about all over the 
little cottage he lived in, in order to collect from his 
secret hoards and get ready for moving everything he 
had that was valuable. All which things being 
placed on the backs of myself and the other beasts 
of burden, we then forthwith departed from the 
ancient place of his habitation, laden besides with 
women, children, geese, chickens, kids, and even little 
puppy dogs. In short, our feet were made to serve 
the purpose of feet for every living thing incapable of 
keeping pace with us. For my own part, though the 
load I was obliged to carry was enormous, I made 
light of my burden; and considering that I was es- 



270 WOLVES. Book VIII. 

caping from tlie destiny awarded me by tlie savage 
peasant, stepped forward with alacrity. 

On leaving the house the road we travelled was exceed- 
ingly rough, leading by a steep acclivity to the summit 
of a mountain covered with trees, and when we had arrived 
there, with toilsome labour, we descended into the plain 
below among open fields. We then proceeded along 
the valley till the evening, and as the shades of night 
were beginning to darken our path, we arrived at a 
certain castle. This castle belonged to a rich in- 
habitant, who had a numerous household, all of whom 
unanimously pressed us to remain there for the night, 
in consequence of the nimiber of ferocious wolves of 
enormous size that infested the neighbourhood. " They 
ravaged the country to such a degree," they said, 
'' that all locomotive communication was put a stop to. 
They fell upon travellers on the roads in packs, like a 
troop of banditti, destroyed the defenceless cattle in the 
fields, and occasionally, when instigated by hunger, 
even attacked people within the precincts of the 
villages and farm-houses. Nowhere in the vicinity," 
they added, " was human Kfe secure from danger from 
the terrible animals. Especially along the road we 
were about to travel the ground was white with 
human bones that lay blanching in the sim, and 
half-eaten disembowelled carcases were scattered about 
everywhere. Not only, therefore, must we pursue 
our journey at all events with extreme caution, avoid- 
ing by all means the dusk, and waiting for broad 



Book VIII. WOLVES. 271 

daylight, witli a clear hot sun, but, placing no confi- 
dence on the debilitating effect of the noontide heat 
on the creatures, move in a compact body like the 
figure of a wedge, and, above all things, prevent our 
party from straggling. 

From the above considerations we were induced to 
remain for the night at the castle ; but yet, notwith- 
standing, the infamous fugitive leaders of our people, 
afraid of being pursued and stimulated by rash impa- 
tience to pursue their journey, put the loads on all our 
backs at the third watch of the night, and drove us 
out again into the road before daylight. For my own 
part, aware of our danger with regard to the wolves, 
and anxious to preserve my haunches from the attacks 
of those animals, I thrust myself as nearly as I was 
able into the middle of the throng among the other 
beasts of burden, even pushing on ahead before several 
of the horses, and . continued to walk on with such a 
light nimble step that I gained general admiration. 
My lively gait, however, proceeded not from alacrity 
of spirit, but on the contrary from fear ; though I con- 
soled myself not a little by reflecting that fear perhaps 
caused the most celebrated of horses, Pegasus, to leap 
all the higher when, panic-struck at the teeth of the 
fire-vomiting Chimera, he made a wonderful spring up 
into the air that carried him clean to the celestial 
regions, and acquired for him his poetic reputation. I 
was also farther comforted, by perceiving that the shep- 
herds by whom we were accompanied had taken the 



272 WOLVES. BookVIII. 

precaution of bringing with them all sorts of offen- 
sive weapons; indeed, they appeared as if regularly 
armed for battle : carrying one a spear, another a 
hunting javelin, a third a number of darts, a fourth a 
long pole or a cudgel, a fifth a sharp pointed stake^ 
borne perpendicularly, &c. In addition to all which 
implements we were everywhere abundantly supplied 
with big stones along the rough road we were travel- 
ling. Besides, we had the advantage of lighted torches 
for the purpose of frightening away our savage an- 
tagonists, and actually required nothing but a trrmapet 
to convert our little troop into a regular army. 

Nevertheless, after all these preparations, whether 
the wolves were scared by the noise and shouting con- 
tinually kept up by our party and by the flaming light 
of the torches, or whether that night they happened to 
be marauding in some other direction, not a single wolf 
came near us, nor did we even so much as see one at a 
distance. But on the other hand, though our fears in 
that respect were vain, the very means we adopted to 
preserve ourselves from the assaults of wild beasts 
brought us into serious difliculties of another descrip- 
tion. For as we were passing one of the farm-houses 
along the road, the husbandmen belonging to it being 
particularly careful of their property, and withal great 
cowards, mistaking our numerous assemblage for a band 
of robbers, let loose a great number of savage dogs upon 
us. Large in size, exceedingly ferocious, well trained 
to guard the flocks, obedient to the voice of their 






Book VIII. ATTACKED BY DOGS. 273 

masters, and equal in strength to cope with the fiercest 
bear or wolf, they came rushing upon us exasperated by 
cheers and hallooing, and spreading themselves in all 
directions, leaped upon and lacerated both men and ani- 
mals alike most grievously. During a considerable 
period that the assault lasted, reader, you might have 
seen a spectacle, by Hercules, more pitiable than 
memorable : many men dragged forthwith to the ground, 
and others, although running away, seized by the 
enraged dogs, thrown prostrate, held down, worried, 
and severely torn. While, in addition to our calamity, 
we were exposed all the time to another peril from the 
rustics and country people hurling down large stones 
upon us from the top of the farm-house and the^summit of 
the adjoining height ; nay, the stones fell around us with 
such rapidity, that it was difficult to say whether the 
injuries so inflicted or from the dogs were the greater. 
At last, all of a sudden, a woman, who was sitting on 
my back, was hit on the head with a stone, and she, 
crying and screaming from the pain of the blow, began to 
call out to her husband, one of the shepherds, to help 
her. With that the shepherd came up to her, and, as 
he was wiping the blood off his wife's head, he shouted 
in a loud voice to the assailants, and calling all the 
gods to witness, thus addressed them: — ''Hardhearted 
wretches that you are," said he, '' for what reason do you 
attack, in this fashion, a number of poor labouring men ? 
What harm have we done to you? What think you 
we want to rob you of? 'Tis not because you dwell 

n3 



274 ATTACKED BY DOGS. Book VIII. 

in rocks and caves, like wild beasts and barbarians, that 
you thus thirst after our blood !" No sooner had the 
shepherd made the above exclamation, than the shower 
of stones immediately ceased, and the dogs also having 
been simultaneously called off by their masters, the 
canine tempest subsided. At the same time one of 
the hostile countrymen, who had climbed to the top of 
a lofty cypress-tree, repKed to the shepherd as follows : — 
" Neither are we," said he, *' desirous of depriving you 
of aught that you have. 'Twas only because we ex- 
pected harm from you that we have defended ourselves. 
Henceforth consider yourselves secure, and depart in 
peace." 

So soon as the peasant had pronounced the latter 
benediction we set forward without more ado, and con- 
tinued to make the best of our way for a considerable 
distance, till we arrived at a spot like a grove, where 
the ground was planted with tall trees, with plenty of 
open space underneath, covered with green turf Here 
our leaders proposed to rest awhile, not only to refresh 
ourselves, but have a thorough examination of limbs 
and bodies ; for many were wounded by the bites of 
the dogs, others by stones, and, one way or other, every 
living creature was hurt more or less. Accordingly 
the people threw themselves down on the gra^s in all 
directions, and having lain a little while to recover from 
their fatigue, presently rose up and began to pay atten- 
tion to their injuries. 

And now all were speedily engaged in the same 



Book VIII. MIRACULOUS ADVENTURE. 275 

occupation, each respectively using the best remedy at 
hand : one, for exafnple, washing away the blood with 
the water of an adjacent rivulet ; another pressing a 
tumour on his head with a wetted sponge; a third 
binding up a gaping gash with linen rags, etc. ; when as 
they were all thus employed, some of the shepherds 
perceived an old man standing on the summit of a hill 
overhanging the place where we were. As he appeared 
looking down towards us, and a parcel of goats were 
feeding round about him, they consequently thought he 
was a shepherd, and under that impression called to 
him, and asked ''Whether he had any milk or curds to 
sell? " At first the old man remained silent, and made 
no other reply to the question than to shake his head, 
and so he continued to do, when they repeated it 
several times, till at last, still shaking his head all the 
while, ''How is it possible," said he, " that you can 
be thinking of food or of drink, or of refreshment of 
any kind, seated where you are? Know you not 
the place you are in?" 

Having uttered the above words, the old man im- 
mediately turned his back upon us, and collecting his 
flock of goats together retreated a long distance away. 
The old man's speech, together with ihe mamier in 
which he went away, excited considerable alarm 
among our shepherds relative to the locality we were 
in; and as there was no one present capable of 
giving any information, they remained a good while 
in a state of much doubt and difficulty. At last. 



276 MIRACULOUS ADVENTURE. Book VIII. 

while yet they were not knowing what .to do, they 
saw another old man below in the valley come walking 
along towards us. Though bent with age almost to a 
horizontal position, and leaning on a stick, he was a 
man of great stature, and as he approached we per- 
ceived that he was shedding tears profusely. When he 
came close to us, wearily draggiag along his feet, one 
after the other, he addressed himself to some of the 
young men of our party, weeping still more bitterly 
than before, and as he embraced their knees, "May 
Providence and good fortune," said he, " be ever with 
you. May you, when you reach the term of my years, 
be strong and happy, so that now you take pity on 
my grey hairs, and kindly rendering your assistance to 
one in a state of decrepitude, rescue from the jaws of 
death my little grandson, the comfort of my decHning 
age. For anon the sweet companion of my journey 
reaching to catch hold of a sparrow that was singing in 
yonder low hedge, fell into the ditch underneath, 
and there lies covered with the bushes. The' child, 
although in fearful peril of his life, I know is still alive ; 
for I heard his voice continually crying to his grand- 
father for assistance, albeit by reason of my feebleness 
I was unable . to give him succour. Lend then your 
powerful aid, ye who are still in the enjojnnent of 
youth and of strength ; preserve, I pray you, the child, 
the inheritor, and the last of kin, of a miserable aged 
man." 

When the old man had ceased to supplicate in this 



Book VIII. MIRACULOUS ADVENTURE. 277 

manner, he tore liis white hair, and continued to lament 
so piteously that the compassion of every man of onr 
party was warmly excited, especially of one not only 
among the yomigest and the strongest, but the bravest 
of all the rest, who, fortunately, had escaped from the 
recent affray with the least injury of any body. The 
latter accordingly springing briskly on his feet in an 
instant, asked the old man *' Where was the ditch into 
which the little boy had fallen ? " and upon being re- 
plied to by the old man pointing his finger to some 
rough bushes a little way off, he proceeded thither, 
accompanied by the other, without more ado. When 
they had departed, and while we were waiting their 
return, the packages were laden on the backs of myself 
and the other beasts of burden ; and the men as well as 
the animals being now sufficiently refreshed, and every- 
thing ready to proceed, they began to call out in order 
to hasten the return of the young man who had gone 
away. The young man, however, not returning any 
answer to the summons, and delaying to make his ap- 
pearance, our people calling him by his name, shouted 
louder than before, and after testifying their displea- 
sure in various ways at liis protracted absence raised a 
considerable clamour; and finally, dispatched a mes- 
senger to the spot whither he had gone, to acquaint 
him of the delay he was occasioning, and to acce- 
lerate his movements. We had remained a very short 
time in suspense when the messenger returned to 
us in a state of excessive agitation, and trembling 



278 ARRIVE AT A VILLAGE. Book VIII. 

violently, with news of his fellow-servant. With a 
face the colour of a piece of boxwood, he related the 
following wonderful account of what he had seen :^^— 
" When he arrived at the spot/' he said, " he saw an 
enormous serpent coiled round his companion, whose 
body, as he lay on his back, was already more than 
half-engulphed in the gullet of the voracious reptile." 
And he added that, on witnessing the terrible spectacle, 
looking round for the old man who had accompanied 
him, the latter was nowhere to be seen. 

No sooner had our people heard of the dreadful 
catastrophe, than, concluding from the first old man's 
language and behaviour, that the terrible tenant of the 
vicinity, the serpent, was the very thing he would, 
have warned us against, they drove us away inune- 
diately at the top of our pace, beating us continually 
with their sticks, in order to get out of the pestilential 
country as soon as possible. Having, therefore, gone 
over a considerable distance at an unusually quick rate, 
we soon arrived at the village where we determined 
to pass the night. The people when we came there 
were in a state of great commotion, in consequence of 
an event that had just happened in the neighbourhood ; 
an event which, brief as is the story, I am desirous, 
reader, of relating for thy benefit. 



I 



Book VIII. SEVENTH EPISODE. 279 



SEVENTH EPISODE. 

SINGULAR PUNISHMENT OF A CRIMINAL. 

In the house where we had taken up our quarters, 
there was a certain man in the family who served in 
the capacity of "bailiff. His wife was living fellow- 
servant in the house, and his master entrusted him 
with the charge of his large establishment. This 
woman became jealous of her husband, in conse- 
quence of his falling in love with a freed woman 
of an adjacent province, and being enraged against 
him, set fire to and consumed his account books, 
and every other article that belonged to him. Nor 
did she stint herself to exercising her fury on his 
goods, but determined also to destroy herself and her 
own offspring. Accordingly she tied a noose round 
her neck, and seizing hold of a child she had borne to 
her husband, she slipped its head into another noose at 
the opposite end of the cord, and precipitated herself 
into a deep well, dragging the miserable innocent 
appendage along with her to the bottom. When the 
master of the house heard of the death of the woman 
and the child, he became mightily indignant; and, 
satisfied of the reasonableness of her complaint against 
her husband, he seized the bailiff as the instigator of 
the woman's crime, and, having had his naked body 



280 SEVENTH EPISODE. Book VIII. 

first anointed all over with koney, firmly bound him to 
an ancient fig-tree. Now about the roots of this fig- 
tree was established in the rotten wood a colony of 
ants, so numerous that, as the countless myriads came 
gushing forth from their receptacles, and dispersed 
themselves here and there abroad in every direction, 
the very earth about the aperture trembled like boiling 
water in a cauldron. The tiny insects were no sooner 
attracted by the sweet smell of the honey, than they 
spread themselves over the entire surface of the man's 
living body, and inflicting upon him excruciating 
agony by their minute but innumerable venomous 
punctures, they speedily and thoroughly devoured him. 
They ate both flesh and entrails, leaving nothing 
remaining save the clean- stripped bones, that, sus- 
pended on the fatal tree, hung blanching in the sun. 

END OF SEVENTH EPISODE. 



Such was the tale we heard related in the village the 
evening of our arrival, and the next morning, while all 
the inhabitants were still in a state of much excite- 
ment, we left this crime-stricken mansion, and pur- 
sued our journey. The whole of that day we travelled 
through an exceedingly flat country, till we were 



Book VIII. LUCIUS OFFERED FOE SALE. 281 

very tixed, and in the evening we arrived in a large 
and populous city. In this city the shepherds of our 
party determined to establish their permanent habita- 
tion, not only owing to the nature of the country, that 
afforded abundance of places of concealment in the 
neighbourhood, but also on account of the excessive 
fertility of the soil. 

We had already been three days at our new place 
of abode, during which period myself and the other 
animals were indulged with perfect rest and fed 
abundantly, in order to improve our appearance pre- 
viously to being brought out to be sold, when we were 
all led forth for that purpose into the market, and 
delivered over to the crier. The crier then with a loud 
voice proclaimed the price of each of us separately ; and 
in a short time the horses and all the asses were bought 
by opulent purchasers, save myself, against whom 
every one of the people who passed by had something 
to say in disparagement. Meanwhile I was left stand- 
ing in a retired spot quite alone, with good reason to 
dislike the treatment I received from those who, 
desirous of ascertaining my age by looking at my teeth, 
were continually handling me. At last I grew out of 
patience with one man in particular, who, having done 
so several times before, was now again rubbing his dirty 
fingers upon my gums ; and I bit his hand very severely. 
No sooner had I performed this justifiable act, than 
the people, thinking I was a vicious, ferocious animal, 
were thenceforward afraid of buying me ; and all of 



282 LUCIUS OFFERED FOR SALE. Book VllL 

them, including even the crier himself — whose voice 
was rough as if his throat were split asunder— began 
to crack ridiculous jokes upon me. " What is the 
use," said the crier, " of trying any longer to sell this 
old screw of a jackass ? His hoofs are foundered, — he 
is of an ugly colour, — and vicious,— and sluggish, — 
and even if you kill him, why, the sieve that you make 
of his hide will only be fit to sift rubbish. Suppose 
now, gentlemen," continued he, " that is, provided 
there happen to be among you some one who don't mind 
throwing away his hay ; suppose, I say, we make you a 
present of him 1" And this way he went on for some 
time, raising a laugh among the surrounding multitude 
at my expense. At last, my most cruel Fortune — 
from whom, go whithersoever I would, I had never been 
able to escape, nor had all my preceding sufFeruigs sufficed 
to conciliate — once more cast her evil eye upon me, and 
procured, as it were by a miracle, a purchaser for me. 
This purchaser, an old man partly bald, whose hair 
that remained hung in pendulous ringlets, was a person 
altogether just suited to be the master of an ass in my 
wretched condition. But, reader, in order to explain 
the profession of my new master, I must inform you 
that he was one of those abominable vagrants who 
wander about from town to town playing upon cymbals 
and castanets, and carrying with them through the 
streets an image of the Syrian goddess, whom thus they 
reduce to the condition of a common beggar, and compel 
to collect alms from the people. 



Book VIII. LUCIUS OFFERED FOR SALE. 283 

This personage appeared at aU events exceedingly- 
anxious to buy me, and inquiring of the crier whence 
I came, " This fine strong animal/' replied the crier, 
" was bred in Cappadocia." Next the other asked how 
old I was; upon which the crier, resuming his tone 
of raillery, " The mathematician," said he, ** who lately 
cast his nativity, and from his profession is well assured 
of the fact, pronounces him five years old ; he will, at 
all events, make thee a good faithful servant to do thy 
work both abroad and at home ; nay, I know not whe- 
ther I may not be rashly selling thee a Eoman citizen 
for a slave, ^nd thereby incur the penalty of the Cor- 
nelian law." The odious customer continued still to 
make a number of interrogations of difierent sorts con- 
cerning me; at last, touching the question of gentle- 
ness, "Truly," said the crier, **^the creature that you 
see before you has more of the sheep than the ass in his 
disposition. Whatever service you require of him 'tis 
all the same. Neither is he a biter nor a kicker, but so 
gentle, on the contrary, that well one might imagine he 
were a sober honest man enveloped in an ass's hide. 
Nay, if you are not satisfied with what I say, and have 
a desire to try the patience of the animal, prithee 
thrust thy head for a moment under his tail." At 
this latter speech of the crier, the old vagabond, be- 
ginning to perceive that the other was making game of 
him, immediately assumed the air of a person highly 
indignant, and exclaimed angrily, " What ? thou dead 
and alive old crier, art thou out of thy senses ? May 



284 LUCIUS SOLD AT A FAIE. Book VIIL 

the omnipotent Syrian Goddess, universal parent of all 
things, may tlie holy Bacchus, and Bellona, and Cybele, 
together with our mistress Venus and her Adonis, strike 
thee blind for thus passing on me thy scurrilous jokes. 
Thinkest thou to place my goddess on the back of a 
vicious beast that, if vexed, would kick the divine 
image off liis back, and lay her prostrate on the ground ? 
Vainly, with hair on end, should I wander all over the 
country for an artificer to repair her." When the cus- 
tomer had pronounced these last words, I, thinking 
that if I were to show symptoms of a ferocious nature, he 
would desist from buying me, was just about to give a 
tremendous jump, and feign a state of rabid madness ; 
but as if anticipating my intention, and at the same time 
being in truth a ready purchaser, he instantly laid hold 
of me, and paid at once the price demanded, seventeen 
denarii, which my master received joyfully. The other 
then very much to my sorrow immediately handed 
me over to my new possessor with a rope of twisted 
rushes tied round my neck instead of a halter. 

I was now forthwith led away to the temporary abode 
of my purchaser, at a place in the neighbourhood not 
far distant, and, after being tied up to the manger the 
remaining part of the day and the ensuing night, en- 
tered the next day upon my new vocation. Early in 
the morning the troop of fanatic priests, whose joint 
property I had now become, sallied forth all together in 
a body on their daily excursion, and, placing the image 
of the S3rrian goddess on my back, they proceeded from 



Book VIII. DANCING PRIESTS. 285 

house to house, collecting general contributions from the 
people in the country wherever they went. They were 
preceded by the stoutest man of all the party, who was a 
skilful player on the horn, and were all dressed in gar- 
ments of various colours that served to disguise their 
persons; paint being also plastered over their dirty 
faces, especially around the eyes. Small saffron-coloured 
turbans of silk or fine linen covered their heads ; about 
their body, some wore white tunics fastened with a 
girdle, and ornamented with purple, spear-shaped ap- 
pendages that fluttered in the wind ; and the shoes on 
their feet were light yellow colour. The whole troop 
being attired after the above fashion, and the image of 
the goddess on my back covered with a silken mantle, 
whenever we arrived at a village or country house the 
pipers struck up their music, and while these played a 
Bacchic strain, the others bared their arms to the 
shoulders, and seizing in their hands each a large 
sword or an axe, and brandishing the weapons above 
their heads, began to shout, and dance, and leap like 
maniacs. 

At one large farm-house especially, where we arrived 
after visiting a few small cottages; there, by reason 
that the dwelling belonged to a rich proprietor, they 
made a gi^and exhibition. Commencing from the in- 
stant they entered the premises, they first began to 
howl and roar discordantly, while they continually ran 
to and fro, using the most frantic gestures. Then 
bending down their heads upon their chest, they would 



286 IMPOSTURES OF DANCING PRIESTS. Book VIII. 

whirl .their pendulous locks round and round with a 
circular motion ; and after they had continued to do so 
for awhile, they tore their flesh with their teeth, and 
finally wounded their arms with a two-edged sword 
which they all carried for the purpose. One man in 
particular, apparently more violently inspired than all 
the rest, panting incessantly, and gasping from the 
very bottom of his chest for breath, pretended to be 
seized with downright madness ; and while thus making 
beheve to be replete with the divine spirit, as if it 
were possible that the gods inflicted on mankind by 
their presence a noxious instead of a salutary influence, 
his merit, — and I beg the reader to mark the care of 
Celestial Providence, — was not permitted to go unre- 
warded. After he had continued in the above state 
for a Kttle while, he commenced a loud, mendaciously 
prophetic address, accusing and upbraiding himself of 
the commission of some crime contrary to the laws of 
their holy rehgion. Then, imprecating punishment 
for his wickedness, he seized hold of a whip worn by 
each of them as a characteristic implement of their pro- 
fession, — a whip formed of hard twisted woollen cord 
strung with the knuckle-bones of sheep, — and began to 
lash liimself with extraordinary energy. Meanwhile 
he and all the rest bore the pain with astonishing forti- 
tude, while from the lashes of the whip and the strokes 
of the swords their blood wetted the ground. Indeed, 
the spectacle caused me no little anxiety, lest the 
Syrian goddess, delighting in the spilling of human 



Book VIIL IMPOSTURES OF DANCING PRIESTS. 287 

blood in sucli abundance, might by and bye take a 
fancy, like certain of mankind who have an appetite for 
ass's milk, to recreate her stomach with an ass's blood. 
The man, however, who inflicted on himself this cruel 
chastisement, at intervals when he stopped, as if to 
rest himself from sheer fatigue, not only received from 
the bystanders pieces of brass money, but of silver also, 
all which he carefully stowed away in a capacious 
pouch in the bosom of his robe; and after he had 
ceased to whip himself, all the spectators vied with 
one another in their presents of articles in kind for 
the general benefit of the Syrian goddess. Accord- 
ingly cheeses, flour, meal, milk, a cask of wine, &c., 
not forgetting some barley for myself the bearer, were 
poured upon us from various quarters, till the weight 
of all together had nearly overpowered me. In this 
manner the priests continued every day to rake 
greedily together all they could possibly lay hold of, 
and stuffing every tiling into sacks procured for the 
occasion, these were placed upon my back. During 
this wandering life, while I served the purpose of a 
locomotive magazine as well as a temple, they plun- 
dered the whole region. 

On one day in particular, after returmng with an 
uncommonly rich booty to a castle where they had 
established their temporary domicile, they determined 
to have a glorious feast in order to celebrate their 
success. Accordingly, pretending to have occasion for 
an animal to sacrifice, they imposed on the credulity 



288 LUCIUS ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK. Book Vlll. 

of a countryman, by means of a fictitions oracle pro- 
claimed in his favour, and obtained of him a beautifully 
fat ram, which they said the Syrian goddess had need 
of because she was hungry. They roasted the ram for 
supper, and having all ate most gluttonously began 
to pledge one another in cups of wine without any 
moderation. Indeed, their potations were carried to 
such unlimited excess, and their hypocrisy was so 
thoroughly exposed during the protracted period of 
their orgies, that at last, unable to tolerate the scene 
any longer, I was seized with an uncontrollable inclina- 
tion to express in audible terms my abomination of the 
mockery. But alas, notwithstanding that I made a 
strenuous effort to pronounce emphatically the words 
"PoREO QuiRiTES," I failed at present as I had done 
before, and without either of the accompanying syllables, 
nothing but the 0, clear and strong in the true asinine 
tone, issued from my gullet. The moment of the excla- 
mation, however, was the most opportune that could 
be imagined. For at the very instant there happened 
to be passing by the building out of doors some young 
men, who, having sallied forth from their homes 
that night in quest of an ass lost by a peasant, their 
neighbour, and already visited, to no purpose, all the 
inns and places of public resort in hopes of finding it, 
now concluded, when they heard me bray, that I was 
the very ass they were in quest of Thinking there- 
fore that I was purposely concealed in the dwelhng, 
they burst open the doors to seize me as their legitimate 



Book VIII. LUCIUS SCOURGED. 289 

prey, and, tliougli they found not tlie ass they looked 
for, they detected the drunken priests in the midst of 
their bacchanalian proceedings. As a good number of 
the country people in the neighbourhood followed in 
the train of the invaders, the whole party of the im- 
postors were thrown into consternation at the exposure ; 
and, fearing that the tale being circulated through the 
country, their abuse of the sacred profession would be 
turned into ridicule, and they themselves not only ren- 
dered despicable in the eyes of the multitude, but de- 
prived of farther sources of emolument, they packed up 
all their baggage so soon as the alarm was over, and 
stealthily left the castle about the hour of midnight. 

Having departed so early we had performed a good 
part of our journey before sunrise, when, leaving the 
road so soon as it became light, they proceeded for 
some distance along an unfrequented track, and then 
halted. Here, after holding a consultation among 
themselves on the misfortune that had happened to 
them, they condemned me to a severe punishment for 
having betrayed them: and tucking up their robes 
forthwith, they took the image of the goddess off my 
back, laid it on the ground, and, without more ado, 
removed my pack-saddle and all my trappings also. 
Then tying me to an oak tree, they scourged me with 
their knuckle-bone whips till I thought they would 
have killed me ; and one, especially, even after all the 
others had satisfied their barbarity, brandished his 



290 LUCIUS'S NAEROW ESCAPE. Book VIII. 

sliarp axe over his liead, and tlireatened to hamstring 
me, because, forsooth, I had deprived him, as he said, 
of his spotless reputation. He would actually have 
carried into effect his object, but for his comrades, who, 
not from compassion towards myself, but for the sake 
of the image of the goddess that lay on the ground, 
preferred to save my life. Accordingly, the goddess 
was once more placed on my back, together with other 
packages ; and then having been driven back into 
the road, we proceeded on our way till we came to a 
very fine and noble city. Here we no sooner arrived, 
than one of the principal inhabitants, an extremely 
religious person, hearing the beating of drums, 
the sound of cymbals, and the soft music of our 
Phrygian melodies, came forth to meet us, and, owing 
to his high veneration for the gods, invited the 
priests to come to his house with the goddess. We 
remained here accordingly, within the range of his 
premises, and the house being a very large one, 
provided us with ample accommodation. Meanwhile 
our host sacrificed the fattest victims for the goddess, 
and treated her divinity with the most profound 
veneration. 

During our sojourn within the walls of this dwelling, 
I found good reason to bear it in remembrance, owing 
to a narrow escape of my life I experienced there. An 
inhabitant of the country in the neighbourhood having 
sent to the master of the house, his landlord, the very 



Book VIII. LUCIUS'S NARROW ESCAPE. 291 

fat hauncli of an exceeding large stag* wliich. lie had 
hunted and killed, the domestics who had the care of 
it incautiously hung it up behind the kitchen-door, so 
near the ground that a dog, being not only a hound by 
profession, but a thief also, speedily deceived the 
watchful eyes of the guardian, and joyfully escaped 
with the prize. So soon as the loss was discovered by 
the cook, the accident, which he attributed to his own 
negligence, grieved him beyond measure, and the idea 
of his master's anger at being disappointed of his supper 
so frightened him, that, after lamenting his misfortune 
for a long time and shedding many vain tears, he took 
a rope, and, after tenderly embracing a little boy, his 
son, was going to hang himself. At this moment his 
faithful wife, apprized to the full extent of her hus- 
band's calamity, seized him with both her hands, and 
violently snatching from him the deadly noose, 
" What," said she, " art thou out of thy senses? 
Canst thou not see that the gods have provided a 
remedy for thy loss ? Bestir thyself, forsooth ! And 
if this terrible whirlwind of fortune hath not blown 
away thy wits, listen to the advice I give thee. Lay 
hold of the strange ass yonder, take him to a solitary 
spot, stick thy knife in his throat, and cut oif one 
of his haunches in the form of the one thou hast 
lost ; then season it with thy savoury sauces, and serve 

* Immanis cervi pinguissimum femur. The same story is 
related by Lucian of the haunch of a wild ass, ovov aypiov ix-qpov. 

2 



292 LUCIUS'S NAREOW ESCAPE. Book VIII. 

it up for supper to our lord, instead of the liauncli of 
venison." 

The reprobate cook, happy at the thought of saving 
his own life at the expense of mine, was much pleased 
at the sagacity of his wife and fellow-servant, and im- 
mediately began to whet his knife on purpose to 
slaughter me. 



Book IX. FLIES TO THE SUPPER-ROOM. 293 



BOOK IX. 

Lucius flies for refuge to the Supper-room — Supposed to be 
afflicted with Hydrophobia — The test of Water — Am- 
biguous Oracle of Priests of the Syrian Goddess — The 
Impostors arrested for Theft and Sacrilege — Lucius sold to 
a Baker — Lucius cruelly worked in a Mill — The Baker's 
wicked Wife — Her traffic with Witches — Supernatural 
death of the Baker — Lucius sold to a poor Gardener — 
Visit of the Gardener to a Rich Neighbour — Supernatural 
Omens — Tragical occurrence. 

Eighth Episode. — Tlie Rural Tyrant. 

Adventure of the Gardener with a Soldier — Gardener and 
Lucius take refuge in a house in the City — Lucius and the 
Gardener discovered and captured. 

While the impious hands of tlie butcher were thus 
preparing the implements to put me to death, I was 
considering how to save my life and escape from the 
hands of my executioner. Stimulated accordingly by 
the imminence of the danger, and having no time for 
reflection, I broke the halter with which I was tied, by 
a sudden jerk, and galloped away as fast as my legs 
would carry me, flinging out my heels behind me all 
tlie way I went, the better to defend myself. Eapidly 
dashing across the first portico I came to, I at once 
bolted into the chamber, where the master of the house 
together witli tlie priests were eating their sacrificial 



294 SUSPECTED OF HYDROPHOBIA. Book IX. 

supper, overturning tlie plates, the dishes, all the 
apparatus of the supper, and the tables also. At the 
noise of the crash, the master of the house was much 
astonished, and having had me delivered over to the 
servants to take care of, he gave them a particular 
charge to conifine " that troublesome frisky jackass," 
as he called me, and not allow me any more to in- 
terrupt the sober proceedings of their festival. For 
my own part, by the trick I had performed, having 
successfully escaped from the butcher's hands, I very 
joyfully made up my mind to the thought of my im- 
prisonment. 

But, alas ! the fatal disposition of Divine Providence 
is neither to be prevented nor modified by the most 
prudent counsels, or the most sagacious remedies ; nor 
can mortal man against the will of fortune arrive at 
prosperity. It happened accordingly in the present 
instance, that at the very moment I was thus endea- 
vouring to procure my deliverance, a most dangerous 
tempest, that eventually had nearly overwhelmed me, 
was then brewing. While they were removing me 
from the sacrificial supper chamber, in order to lock 
me up in another part of the building, one of the ser- 
vant boys burst into the apartment with terror in his 
countenance, and in a state of dreadful agitation, 
— as I heard the servants telling one another in a 
whisper — announced to his master, that some of the 
baggage animals, which a little while before had been 
bitten by a mad dog, were just gone mad. It appeared 



Book IX. SUSPECTED OF HYDROPHOBIA. 295 

that on the occasion referred to, the dog came runnnig 
along out of the next street at a furions rate, entered by 
the back gate of the premises, and first attacked and bit 
several of the hounds, after which rushing to the nearest 
of the stables he bit the horses, as well as several of the 
attendants and servants who endeavoured to drive him 
away. The men who had been bitten were— Myrtilus 
the muleteer, Hephsestion the cook, Hypatius the cham- 
berlain, Apollonius the doctor, and several others. 
The whole family being thrown into violent conster- 
nation at the intelligence, every body concluded by 
my recent behaviour that I too was certainly afflicted 
with the rabid distemper ; so being fearfully anxious 
for their own preservation, they unanimously en- 
couraged one another to seize hold of every offensive 
weapon within their reach in order to put an end to 
me, notwithstanding that they themselves were at the 
moment much madder than I was. And now as they 
got easily and speedily all manner of implements to 
suit their purpose, such as hunting spears, javelins, aye 
and axes also; my limbs would certainly then have 
been severed from my body, had I not yielded at once 
to the sudden blast of the whirlwind, and rushed with- 
out more ado into the bedchamber of the priests my 
masters. 

Hither 1 was promptly followed by a host of my 
enemies, who, having closed and fastened the door 
upon me, and placed a guard outside before the entrance, 
were contented to allow me to perish of my own accord. 



296 THE WATER TEST. Book IX. 

of the pestilent incurable disease, which they took for 
granted would speedily consume and destroy me. 

Meanwhile, finding myself in partial possession of 
liberty, and at least in the enjoyment of one of fortune's 
favours, solitude, I threw myself down on a bed that was 
spread on the floor, and obtained, what I had not had a 
very long time before, the blessing of sound and, as it 
were, human repose. Indeed, I slept so long and was so 
exceedingly refreshed by the uncommon softness of the 
bed, that when I awoke it was already broad daylight. 
Springing on my feet, fresh and vigorous, I immediately 
began to listen to the conversation of the two men who, 
keeping guard upon me outside the door, were debating 
with one another as to what was to be done with me. 
And one said to the other, " Wliat? this miserable ass 
mad still ? I say 'tis impossible. No longer are there 
any signs of ferocity about him, so the virus must be 
extinct." With that the other expressed a contrary 
opinion, and a difference arising between them, they 
both together peeped through a crack in the door, in 
order to take a look at me ; when seeing that I was 
quietly standing at my ease as well as ever, they opened 
the door cautiously and entered the apartment. Then, 
while they were debating with one another as to what 
experiments with regard to me it were necessary to 
make, one of them, who certainly was sent for my 
deliverance express from heaven, after several of the 
people of the household had come in and joined the 
consultation, proposed to all the persons assembled a 



Book IX. THE WATER TEST. 297 

mode of testing my sanity. " Offer him," said he, " a 
full pail of water, and if he swallow it intrepidly in his 
usual manner, he is surely free of the distemper ; but 
if, on the contrary, he flinches when he sees the liquid, 
and shrinks from coming in contact with it, you may 
be sure that the baneful madness has yet an obstinate 
hold on him. For this fact is contained in the books of 
our ancient writers, and we know it by experience." 

All the spectators immediately agreed to the man's 
proposal, and accordingly sending an enormous vessel 
to the neighbouring fountain, it was filled with trans- 
parent water, and placed before me. Although they 
offered it with doubt and hesitation, I delayed not a 
moment to advance, and meet the bearer, and stretching 
forward my nose, for I was exceedingly thirsty, I 
plunged my head up to my very eyes in the water, and 
gulped down a copious and under present circum- 
stances a truly salutiferous draught. The moment I 
had been seen to drink, they all approached me with 
confidence, and made trial of my gentleness in different 
ways; while I, as one patted me with his hand, 
another stroked my ears, and a third pulled me by the 
halter, bore every thing they did with such excessive 
patience, that my docility met with universal approba- 
tion, and they were all thoroughly convinced of their 
mistake in thinking me mad. 

Having, in the manner above related, escaped from 
a twofold danger, the priests, on the day after the last- 
mentioned occurrence, departed from their present 

o 3 



298 AMBIGUOUS ORACLE. Book IX. 

quarters, and I was once more led ont into tKe road 
laden with divine pillage. Pursuing our mendicant 
pilgrimage tlirougli the country to the music of cymbals 
and castanets, we at last, after visiting sundry castles 
and small houses, arrived at a certain town which, as 
the inhabitants informed us, was built over the half- 
perished walls of a once opulent city. Here the most 
pious priests, my masters, finding themselves pampered 
with food at the public expense, remained for several 
days, while they derived extraordinary recompence by 
practising a new species of deception on the public by 
means of an oracle they pretended to proclaim. This 
oracle, wliich suited all the various cases of the many 
different people who consulted them, ran as follows : — 

" Lo, wliere yon yoke of oxen cleave the soil, 
The joj^ful earth shall soon repay the toil."* 

Thus their reply to everybody being always in the 
same terms, if a person proposed a question relating to 
matrimony, aye or nay; the interrogator interpreted 
the answer to the effect that he ought to marry imme- 
diately and be blessed by a family of children. Again, 
if one, doubtful whether or not to purchase a lot of 
land, consulted the oracle, he derived from the same 
reply an answer in the affirmative, from the reference 
to a yoke of oxen and an abundant harvest. The tra- 
veller also, about to set forward on a journey, and 

* Ideo conjuneti terram proscindunt boves 
Ut in futurum lasta germincnt sata. 



Book IX. IMPOSTORS ARRESTED. 299 

anxious to depart under divine auspices, anticipated 
a profitable, dangerless expedition by the allusion to 
the prolific earth and to oxen, the most docile of qua- 
drupeds. Nay, even the soldier desirous of know- 
ing his fate before going into battle, or in pursuit of a 
band of robbers, flattered himself with the idea of mak- 
ing a copious harvest of plunder, and of bending the 
necks of his enemies to the yoke. 

Exercising after this fashion the capricious craft of 
divination, they continued for some time to scrape to- 
gether a considerable sum of money, until at last over- 
borne by the perpetual interrogatories put to them, and 
their unsound logic failing them more and more every 
day, they were obliged once more to shift their quarters 
for another temporary domicile. Departing accordingly 
from our present abode we travelled along a road 
even a great deal worse than the road we had come 
by the day we arrived. In some places the entire 
country before us exhibited a uniform fluid surface like 
a stagnant lake ; in others, when passing over dry land 
comparatively, the water rushed in whirlpools through 
the land-drains we had to cross, and the ground under 
our feet was muddy, slippery clay. At last, frequently 
beating my legs against obstacles of various sorts, I 
became so exceedingly fatigued, that I was hardly 
able to keep in the proper path, and fell down re- 
peatedly. 

And now behold while we were thus painfully pur- 
suing our toilsome journey, a band of armed cavalry 



300 IMPOSTORS ARRESTED. Book IX. 

falling upon us from behind witli such impetuosity 
that they could scarcely hold in their horses forthwith 
took prisoners my master, our leader, and all the rest of 
his companions. Calling them by the most opprobrious 
names, seizing them by the throat, and every now and 
then beating them with their fists, they authoritatively 
bade them deliver up the gold cup they had stolen 
from the town whence we last departed. Meanwhile, 
as the soldiers were putting handcuffs on the men, and 
diligently making search for the object required, one 
soldier, less scrupulous than the rest, having had the 
audacity to search the image of the Goddess on my 
back, he drew forth from her bosom the cup in question, 
which they, having entered the sanctuary of Cybele 
under pretence of performing their secret mysteries, 
had clandestinely purloined. For which reason, after 
committing the heinous crime, they had departed 
stealthily, and passed the Pomoerium before it was 
quite daylight, in order to escape punishment. These 
hardened offenders, however, were by no means con- 
founded or abashed at the discovery of their guilt, but, 
on the contrary, pretended to make light of their ne- 
farious wickedness, and treat the matter as a jest, ex- 
claiming with mendacious effrontery to the soldiers, 
laughing all the time, '' Why, what a disturbance are 
you making here about nothing at all 1 Truly thus 
it is continually with honest men, and we, a parcel 
of innocent priests, are falling into trouble, and put in 
danger of capital punishment for the sake of one single 



Book IX. LUCIUS SOLD TO A BAKER. 301 

cup, — a cup tliat the Groddess Cjbele made a present of 
to her sister, the Syrian divinity, as a pledge of hospi- 
tality." The above frivolous excuse and many others 
similar were all to no purpose, for the soldiers delivered 
over the plunderers to the peasants of the country, who 
recklessly binding with ropes their limbs, cast them 
into a subterraneous prison, dark as the Tullian dungeon 
in Eome. 

The gang of religious impostors being thus disposed 
of, the image I had carried on my back, together with 
the stolen cup now recovered, were consecrated as 
votive offerings, and suspended in the proper place 
for gifts of a like description in the temple of Cybele. 
As regarded myself, I was once more brought out for 
sale in the public market. There having been duly 
delivered over to the crier, I was sold to a baker be- 
longing to a neighbouring village, who gave seven 
pieces of money more than the priests, my late masters, 
had paid for me. So soon as I had become the pro- 
perty of my new owner, he, having just purchased a 
quantity of wheat, immediately put a heavy load of it 
on my back, and drove me to the place of his abode. 
The road we went was exceedingly rough and gra- 
velly, grievously impeded moreover by the stumps of 
trees of all sizes and shapes. So soon as we arrived, 
I was led to the bakehouse where he exercised his 
profession, in which large apartment I saw several 
flour-mills turned by animals, moving round in a circle. 
Though the work was carried on here not only the 



302 CKUELLY WORKED IN A MILL. Book IX. 

wKole of the day, but in the evening by lamp-light, 
my new master, perhaps fearing that the view of the 
first rudiments of the service might have somewhat 
alarmed me, treated me the first day of our arrival as 
the Eomans behave to an honoured foreigner ; and with 
an abundant supply of food in my manger, I had a 
perfect holiday. 

With the end of the first day, however, the bless- 
ings of a full belly and of the rest I had enjoyed came 
to a termination ; for not only was I set to work very 
early the next morning, but I was put in a mill that, 
as it seemed to me, was the largest of all in the apart- 
ment. My eyes being blinded, and my head confined 
in such a manner that I was continually kept at an 
equal distance from the centre of the circle, I was driven 
along a hollow path or channel, preserving always 
the same orbit, and obliged to follow the same foot- 
steps over and over again. I was not forgetful, how- 
ever, under my present misfortune, of the prudence and 
sagacity that belonged to me, nor did I render myself 
an easy victim to my apprenticeship. But though I 
had frequently seen, while I was a man, macliines 
made to revolve in a like manner with those at pre- 
sent, yet thinking I might get myself employed in 
some lighter description of labour, or at all events be 
taken out of harness to be fed and rest awhile, I pre- 
tended to be a novice, and not know how to proceed ; 
and making believe to be seized with a fit of stupefaction, 
I stopped all of a sudden and stood stock stilL But 



Book IX. CRUELLY WORKED IN A MILL. 303 

alas ! instead of being considered altogether unfit for mj 
work and useless for such sort of service, as I had ima- 
gined, on the contrary my cleverness only brought me 
into still further trouble ; for the instant I halted, the 
men in the bakehouse set up a shout simultaneously, 
and, as if upon a given signal, all their sticks at once 
fell upon me in a shower. The noise of the voices, in 
Addition to the pain of the blows, which being blinded 
I was unprepared for, so terrified me, that from that 
instant I abandoned all cunning tricks, and straining 
with my whole weight upon the rush rope- traces, 
walked steadily round in my ring like a practised 
draught-horse. By wliich sudden change of sect as 
it were in asinine philosophy, I excited a general burst 
of laughter. 

The greatest portion of the day had already passed 
when my traces were unhooked, and being taken away 
from the machine I was led to a manger plentifully 
supplied with food. Nevertheless, although I was ready 
to die with hunger, and withal was dreadfully fatigued 
and had the utmost need of having my strength re- 
stored, the curiosity of my nature overpowered every 
other sensation, and I actually refrained from eating 
in order to look around me. I viewed with a degree 
of eagerness amounting to painful delight the dis- 
cipline of our abominable workshop. Wliat a mise- 
rable stunted set of human beings did I see before 
me ! Creatures, ye gracious gods, whose lacerated 
backs and shoulders, shaded rather than covered with 



304 INMATES OF THE BAKEHOUSE. Book IX. 

ragged cloaks, were marked witli black and blue 
wheals ; tlieir heads half-shaved ; their foreheads branded 
with letters ; their faces of ghastly paleness, their eyes, 
from the vaporous heat of dark smoky chambers, sore 
and rheumy, tlieir eyelids glued together, and their 
ankles encompassed by heavy iron rings. The flesh of 
the greater portion was visible through the rents and 
fissures of their tattered garments, wliile the entire 
bodies of the remainder, naked witli the exception of 
a slender covering about the waist, were sprinkled 
over with a dirty mixture of flour and ashes like the 
dust of an amphitheatre. 

But when I attempt to describe my fellow labourers, 
the beasts of draught, where shall I find words to use, 
or how shall I begin ? A miserable assemblage of weak, 
worn-out mules and geldings, the ulcerated wounds on 
their necks in a state of putrefaction ; their chests from 
the friction of the rush breast-rope galled and raw ; their 
sides laid bare to the bone from incessant stripes ; their 
hoofs elongated to an extraordinary degree from ex- 
cessive work, and their entire skin exasperated by in- 
veterate mange, — all standing at the manger, some 
gasping under the incessant impulse of a languid cough, 
and panting at their nostrils Hke a pair of bellows ; and 
others with their heads deeply buried in the heaps of 
chaiF they were devouring. 

At the sight of the sad spectacle I could not refrain 
from calling to mind the condition and fortunes of the 
once happy Lucius ; and lamenting miseries which, 



Book IX. THE BAKER'S WICKED WIFE. 305 

having become a member of the family I was now 
doomed to participate, I felt myself at that moment 
reduced to the very lowest pitch of calamity. In 
silence and in sorrow I held down my drooping head. 
One sole circumstance, however, in the miserable life 
of torment I was leading afforded me comfort ; namely, 
the very ample gratification of my excessive natural 
curiosity that I experienced in consequence of people 
paying no manner of attention to me, and freely saying 
and doing without restraint whatever they were in- 
clined to in my presence. Even now I hold the days 
when I was an ass in grateful remembrance ; for as the 
divine author of Greek poetry, when desirous of exhi- 
biting the character of a man of consummate prudence, 
justly chose for an example one who, travelling through 
many cities and becoming acquainted with people of 
various nations, ultimately attained to virtues of the 
highest order : so I, though indeed my metamorphose 
may not have made me quite so wise as Ulysses, have, 
through the manifold vicissitudes of fortune that I was 
compelled to endure, wonderfully increased my know- 
ledge. Many forsooth are the tales which, were I not 
averse to infringing the bounds of discretion, I could 
relate for the edification of my reader. 

My master, the baker, was a well behaved, tolerably 
good man, but his wife, of all the women in the world, 
was the most wicked creature in existence, and con- 
tinually rendered his home such a painful scene of 
tribulation to him, that, by Hercules ! many is the 



306 THE BAKER'S WICKED WIFE. Book IX. 

time and oft that I have silently deplored Ms fate. 
The heart of that most detestable woman was like a 
common cess-pool, where all the evil dispositions of our 
nature were collected together. There was actually 
no description of Avickedness she was not subject to. 
She was cruel, treacherous, malevolent, obstinate, penu- 
rious ; yet profuse in expenses of dissipation, faithless 
to her husband, a cheat and a drunkard. She was, 
moreover, totally without regard for the divinities, 
and treated their ceremonies with contempt ; nay, sub- 
stituted instead, a certain other religion* and another 
God, whom mendaciously and sacrilegiously she called 
the only God. Thus, under the pretence of vain, 
empty observances, deceiving all her neighbours, and 
betraying her miserable husband, she passed her time, 
beginning every day with morning draughts of wine, 
in excessive debauchery. 

Such was the persecutor that it fell to my unfortu- 
nate lot to have in this woman, for she took an ex- 
traordinary dislike to me. Even while she was still in 
bed, and before daybreak, she used to call out, and bid 
the people put the new ass in the mill ; and when she 
was up and out of her chamber, she would come and 
stand over me, and make them inflict upon me repeated 
stripes in her presence while I was at work. Neither 

* In the character of this woman drawn Toy Apuleius is to he 
remarked a striking exemplification of the feeling entertained 
towards the Christians and their religious ceremonies by the 
literary men of the age at the time he wrote. 



I 



Book IX. THE BAKER'S WICKED WIFE. 307 

would slie allow me to be taken out of harness at the 
usual period at dinner time, when all the other animals 
were fed, but kept me standing a long time before she 
would allow me to be led to the manger. 

The barbarity of this woman very much stimulated 
my natural disposition to inquisitiveness, and led me 
to observe her goings on the more narrowly. Indeed, 
I kept an accurate account of all her visitors; and 
notwithstanding that for the most part of the time my 
eyes were blinded, my sagacity, in spite of the de- 
formity of my figure, through the mistake of Fotis in 
changing me into an ass instead of a bird, enabled me 
to form tolerably certain conclusions concerning them 
by other means. 1 had the consolation of possessing 
an uncommonly fine pair of long ears, with which I 
could hear every word that was uttered around me 
within a considerable distance. For example, one old 
woman, her inseparable companion, who breakfasted 
with her every day, used to go to and fro with all 
her notes and messages ; . and these two women would 
spend the whole of their time swallowing repeated 
draughts of wine, strong and undiluted, while they 
laid their wits together, and contrived the most artful 
schemes to deceive my unfortunate master. 

At last one day, while, at the usual hour, myself 
and all the other animals were taken to drink at a 
neighbouring lake, by an old, lame man, our driver, I 
heard it said on the way, that the baker had procured 
a bill of divorce against his execrable helpmate, and 



308 HER TRAFFIC WITH WITCHES. Book IX. 

that intelligence turned out in due time to be true. 
Accordingly, sucli being the proceedings instituted 
against her, and the genuine atrocity of her disposition 
being exasperated by the affront so justly inflicted, 
she resorted at once to the malicious resources that an 
enraged, revengeful woman usually has recourse to. 
Among other arts and contrivances to gratify her ven- 
geance, she took the utmost pains to find out and 
communicate with a certain woman who had the repu- 
tation of being a witch, whose spells and incantations 
were of power unlimited. Having conciliated this 
woman by frequent supplications and making her 
various presents, she besought of her one of two things 
— either to soften the heart of her husband, so that he 
might be reconciled to her ; or, if unable to do that, to 
send a ghost or some evil spirit to put him to a violent 
death. With that, the sorceress, invoking the divine 
powers at her command, first exercised the primary 
weapons of her wicked art in trying to inspire the 
heart of the grievously offended baker with conjugal 
love ; but entirely failing in the endeavour, and be- 
coming irritated against the divinities, indignant at 
their contemptuous neglect of her invocations, and 
anxious not to lose the stipulated reward of her ser- 
vices, she determined to contrive the death of my 
unfortunate master. Therefore she raised from the 
grave, to effect her purpose, the shade of a woman who 
had been murdered. But, reader, peradventure, if 
thou art; a scrupulous person, thou wilt here carp at 



Book iX. HER TRAFFIC WITH WITCHES, 309 

my narrative, and, doubting my veracity, exclaim, 
" Why, tliou silly jackass, tliou that wert confined 
continually within the walls of a bake-house, how 
couldst thou possibly know what those women were 
doing while out of thy sight and hearing?" Yet, 
I pray tliee, be patient for a little while, and Hsten 
with attention ; then thou wilt know how an inquisi- 
tive human being, wearing an ass's form, obtained the 
knowledge of all proceedings relating to the destruc- 
tion of the baker. 

One day, about noon, there entered the bakehouse 
a bare-footed woman half clad, wearing a mourning 
mantle thrown across her shoulders, her pale sallow 
features marked by a lowering expression of guilt, her 
grisly dishevelled hair sprinkled with ashes, and her 
front locks streaming over her face. Such was the ex- 
traordinary appearance of the stranger. Unexpectedly 
approaching the baker, and taking him gently by the 
hand, she drew him aside, and led him into an adjoin- 
ing chamber, as if she had private intelligence to com- 
municate. After the baker had departed, and a consi- 
derable period had elapsed without his returning, at 
last all the wheat that had been delivered to the work- 
men to grind was converted into flour ; and as it was 
necessary to apply to the baker for more, the servants 
went to the door of the chamber whither he had retired, 
and called to him for a fresh supply of wheat to go on 
with their labour. Eeceiving no answer, they knocked 
A'ery loud at the door, and after continued silence 



310 DEATH OF THE BAKER. Book IX. 

called again several times, and tliumped still harder 
than before. They then perceived that the door was 
carefully locked and bolted ; upon which, at once con- 
cluding that some serious catastrophe had happened, 
they pushed against it with their utmost strength, and 
by a violent effort, either breaking the hinge or driving 
it out of its socket, they effected an entrance by force. 
The moment they were within the chamber, they 
saw the baker hanging quite dead from one of the 
beams of the ceiling, but the woman who had accom- 
panied him had disappeared and was nowhere to 
be seen. 

So soon as the neck was freed from the noose and 
the body taken down, preparations for the funeral were 
immediately commenced, and the corpse, having been 
cleansed by its last ablution, and the customary offices 
for the dead having been performed, was carried to the 
sepulchre, accompanied by a great concourse of people 
uttering bitter lamentations. The next day the baker's 
daughter, by a former wife, who had been married a 
little time before, and lived in a neighbouring village, 
came running from her home to the bakehouse, shaking 
her dishevelled hair, and beating her bosom with her 
fists in sorrow at the death of her father; of which 
event, though she had not received information from any 
living being, she was nevertheless perfectly cognizant. 
For in the dead of the previous night the figure of 
her father, with the fatal rope about his neck, had ap- 
peared, and disclosed to her her stepmother's wicked 



Book IX. LUCIUS SOLD TO A GARDENER. 311 

infidelity, and all tlie circumstances how the ghost 
raised by a. witch at her request had murdered him. 

The baker's daughter bewailed the fate of her father for 
several days in succession, until she was prevailed upon 
by the friends of the family not to continue her dismal 
lamentations any longer. And on the ninth day after 
the funeral, when the last solemnities of the tomb had 
been fully completed, the whole of the property and 
household furniture, including slaves and beasts of bur- 
den, were brought out to be sold by auction for the 
benefit of the heiress. Thus did capricious fortune 
separate from one another, and disperse in various 
directions, the members of one family. 

For my part I was sold to a poor gardener, who paid 
for me fifty pieces of money, " A great price," he said^ 
"though," he added, "such a creature as myself was 
indispensable to help him to gain a livelihood." Now 
here, before going any farther, it were methinks ad- 
visable to acquaint thee, reader, with the nature of the 
service I had to perform while I remained in this gar- 
dener's possession. Every morning my new master 
used to lead me, with a heavy load of vegetables on my 
back, to a neighbouring city, and when he had sold all 
his greens, he would then mount upon me, and ride 
me back all the way to his garden. There, while he 
was digging, irrigating the ground, and performing 
various other sorts of labour in a stooping position, I 
was certainly at my ease, and refreshed by silence and 
rest. But when, owing to the mutations of the hea- 



312 GRIEVANCES OF LUCIUS, Book IX. 

venlj bodies and tlie lapse of days and months of" 
the revolving year, the delightful fragrance of autumn 
had evaporated, and was succeeded by the frosts of 
Capricorn, lo and behold, I, being kept in the open 
air, was almost perished to death with cold. Con- 
fined in a stable or shed without a roof, I was conti- 
nually exposed to the dews at night, and not unfre- 
quently to heavy ram. ^Neither had I any Ktter to lie 
upon, nor could my master, owing to his extreme 
poverty, allow me a covering for my body, were it 
never so slender; nay, he had notliing of the sort 
even for himself, but was satisfied with the shelter and 
warmth of Ms little cottage thatched with boughs 
and leaves. JSTotwithstanding, the mud was frequently 
frozen so hard in the morning that I was put to 
severe pain by striking my unshod feet against the 
cold hardened clods. Moreover, in addition to these 
grievances, though my master and myself fared alike, 
the food I got Avas neither of the sort I was used to, 
nor in quantity enough to fill my belly. We partook 
of the same miserable supper of old lettuces that had 
run to seed, were grown to such an enormous size that 
they resembled brooms, and their juice was muddy 
and bitter from decay. 

Such was the manner of my life, and such my food 
day after day and night after night in succession for a 
considerable period ; during which there happened no 
remarkable incident worth relating. At last, one very 
rainy moonless night, a traveller came to my master's 



Book IX. SUPERNATURAL OMENS. 313 

little cottage, and begged admittance. He was a house- 
holder of a neighbouring village, who, having got out 
of his road in the dark and completely lost his way, 
had wandered to our garden. As his horse was dead 
tired, and himself wet to the skin, the gardener gave 
him, if not a hospitable, at least a kind, reception and 
shelter. In the morning, when he departed, notwith- 
standing his limbs had not received in the night the 
comfort of a delicate bed, he promised my master to 
send him from his farm, in gratitude for his lodging, 
some wheat and olives, and a couple of casks of wine, 
to fetch which articles, so soon as the other had gone 
away, the gardener forthwith mounted on my back. 
Sitting on my bare spine, and carrying with him some 
empty wine- skins and a sack, he rode me the distance 
of sixty stadia* to the farm in question, where, at the 
moment we arrived, the family were then just about to 
sit down to a sumptuous dinner. 

And now I have a wonderful occurrence to relate. 
My master having been invited to partake of the 
entertainment, having taken his place at the table 
accordingly, and several cups of wine having been 
expended in drinking healths among the company, 
there came suddenly running into the apartment one 
of the hens from the poultry yard, cackling as if she 
wanted to lay an egg. Upon which said the master of 
the house, looking at the hen, and observing her beha- 

* Seven miles and a half. 



314 SUPERNATURAL OMENS. Book IX. 

viour, " Well done, my maiden 1 Verily thou art a good 
prolific servant, for thou hast feasted us for many a day 
with thy offspring, and now, methinks, art in the 
mind to present us with another dainty morsel. Ho ! 
boy," continued he, addressing himself to the male 
servant, ' ' bestir thyself. Gro, as thou art wont to do, 
and place a basket for the hen in yon corner." At 
these words of the master, the boy did as he was desired, 
and immediately brought in the basket; but, on the 
contrary, the hen, refusing to go near her usual bed, 
immediately squatted herself at her master's feet, and 
there produced — not such an egg as we know hens lay 
every day, but a premature live chicken. 

No sooner had the precocious prodigy begun to run 
chirruping about the room after its mother, perfect in 
all its parts, in its eyesight, feathers, claws, &c., than 
the hearts of all spectators were struck with terror at 
the appearance of another miracle of more dire por- 
tentous character. The earth underneath the dinner- 
table burst open in a yawning chasm, whence gushed 
forth a copious fountain of blood, that sprinkled 
the table with large heavy drops. And at the same 
moment, while every one was looking at these divine 
presages with tremulous dismay and wonderment, one 
of the servants rushed into the room from the wine- 
cellar, announcing that the wine in all the casks — 
wine that had been stored a long while ago — was boiling 
hot, and bubbling like water in a cauldron. Finally, 
simultaneous with the above ominous appearances. 



ii 



Book IX. SUPERNATURAL OMENS. 315 

several weasels, having fast hold with their teeth of a 
dead serpent, dragged it into the house ; the sheep-dog 
opened his mouth, and out jumped a little green frog ; 
and a ram, that stood close to the sheep-dog, seizing 
him immediately by the throat with his teeth, strangled 
him at a single bite. 

These miraculous, terrible phenomena threw the 
master of the house and all his family into grievous 
consternation. Their minds were paralysed. What 
they were about, what they ought to do, how or 
where to begin, what to leave to be done last, how 
many or what sort of victims to procure for sacrifice, 
or how otherwise best to appease the anger of the 
celestial deities, nobody knew. And thus, entirely 
overwhelmed with intense fear, they were in torpid 
suspense, when all of a sudden a servant arrived in 
haste from one of the neighbouring farms, bringing 
sad intelligence. A fearful catastrophe had visited the 
family of the master of the house with awful destruc- 
tion. His three sons, sons of their highly respected 
father, all grown-up young men, well educated, and of 
modest disposition, were now no more. The circum- 
stances of their melancholy death, as related by the 
messenger, were as follows. 



p 2 



316 EIGHTH EPISODE. .Book IX. 



EIGHTH EPISODE. 

THE RURAL TYRANT. 

Close to the farm where the .young men inhabited, 
dwelt an humble cottager, with whose son from their 
early youth they had lived on terms of familiarity. 
Not far from their abode was the domicile of a neigh- 
bour, young, rich, and the proprietor of a vast expanse 
of fertile fields. He was also of a noble family ; but 
became a leader of factions, insolently lorded it as he 
pleased over the people in the city, and converted the 
glory derived from his ancestors to evil purpose. Not 
even in the neighbourhood of his own domain was he 
less tyrannical, but, holding in no respect the poverty 
of the poor cottager, he drove away his oxen, killed his 
sheep, trampled down his unripe corn, so that he 
utterly destroyed all hope of the coming harvest, and, 
in short, invaded the limited circle of his humble 
neighbour as if he were making inroads in the country 
of an enemy. Finally, he raised a frivolous question 
about proprietorship, and claimed all the land. 

Now the husbandman, though otherwise of a mild, 
unassuming disposition, finding himself, through the 
avarice of the rich man, likely to be deprived of all he 
had, and determining, at all events, to keep land 
enough to dig himself a grave, became violently agi- 



Book IX. EIGHTH EPISODE. 317 

tated, and fortliwith called together a large assemblage 
of liis friends, in order to consult them relative to the 
limits of his boundary. Among those who willingly 
attended the summons, ready to assist in his difficulty 
and defend his rights to the utmost of their power, 
were the sons of our host, the three brothers above 
mentioned. 

When the cottager appeared in his rich neighbour's 
presence, with all his auxiliaries, the cruel man was by 
no means daunted nor confused at the sight of so many 
people ; and when the cottager began mildly to expos- 
tulate, and do all he could to pacify his boisterous 
disposition, so far from promising to abstain in future 
from acts of rapine, he was even unable to confine his 
tongue to civil language. He swore by the life of his 
most dear relatives, and by his own life, that nought 
he cared for the mediators, and would make his ser- 
vants drag the cottager by the ears from his house, 
and thrust him out of the country. At the above 
threat, the minds of all the hearers were filled with 
indignation, and, without a moment's hesitation, one of 
our host's three sons told him plainly, that the liberal 
power of the law was strong, and would protect 
the poor from the insolence of a wealthy tyrant 
like him. No sooner had the youth pronounced the 
latter words, than the truculent spirit of the other 
became roused to a pitch of insanity ; and as if struck 
by the whip of the Furies, or like fire infuriated by 
oil or sulphur, he shouted to his people in a frantic 



318 EIGHTH EPISODE. Book IX. 

rage, and bade tliem lay on the dogs. Sheep dogs and 
house dogs, great rough, fierce animals, with large, 
heavy collars* about their necks, creatures accustomed 
to feed upon dead carcases in the fields, and worry 
travellers in the open thoroughfares, were accordingly 
let loose ; and, encouraged to the attack by the whooping 
and holloing of their masters, rushed furiously on the 
people. Seizing and mercilessly tearing their victims, 
growling and barking discordantly, and pursuing the 
terrified remainder, the youngest of the brothers fled 
from the massacre among a dense mass of fugitives, 
but severely bruising his toes against a stone as he ran, 
he lucklessly fell to the ground, and was instantly torn 
in pieces. No sooner was he prostrate than the savage 
animals made him their prey, before his brothers, not- 
withstanding their efforts were accelerated by grief at 
the sound of his last agonizing cries, could render him 
assistance. Hurling large stones at the dogs, and with 
their cloaks wrapped round their left arms for defence, 
doing all that lay in their power to defend the unfor- 
tunate youth, still were they utterly unable to drive 
away his assailants. 

Thus compelled to leave the lacerated body of their 
youngest brother, whose last words implored them to 
avenge his death on the murderer, with ardent courage, 
that overcame the feeling of despair, and with heroic 

* '' Annulatos." This word appears in the Francfort edition, 
1621. The Paris Delphin edition, 1648, substitutes " alum- 
natos," which quite alters the sense. 



Book IX. EIGHTH EPISODE. 319 

disregard of their own lives and safety, they ruslied 
upon and assaulted tlie rich man with stones, with 
the impetuosity, by Hercules, of madmen. But that 
bloodthirsty homicide, trained by practice to similar 
deeds of outrage, launched a spear at one of the two 
survivors, that passed through and through his body, 
inflicting a mortal wound. Neither was he, though 
dead in an instant, doomed to fall ; but he remained 
suspended — propped lifeless on the long strong handle 
of the weapon, whose point stuck in the ground. With 
that, a tall powerful servant of the assassin, hastening 
to the spot where his master stood, violently hurled a 
stone at the last surviving brother, that slightly grazed 
his fingers without inflicting injury ; though his anta- 
gonist, and all who beheld the blow, imagined it had 
struck his arm. Whereupon the youth's presence of 
mind suggesting the prospect of revenge, he exclaimed 
to his savage oppressor, feigning as if he had received 
a grievous hurt, and the arm were disabled: "Well 
hast thou now, exulting in the extinction of an en- 
tire family, completed thy glorious triumph, and 
achieved a victory over thy prostrate fellow citizens. 
But though the blood of three brothers regale thy 
insatiable cruelty, yet, extend as thou wilt the limits 
of thy lands, ever shalt thou find thyself circumscribed 
by a boundary, ever shall there be some one or other 
neighbour to trench upon thee. The arm, alas ! that 
would have smote ofl" thy head, by the iniquitous 
decree of fate hangs powerless at my side." So soon 



320 EIGHTH EPISODE. Book IX. 

as tlie young man had uttered these words the furious 
robber grasped his sword in a fit of exasperation, and 
rushed forwards to kill him outright. But he had 
provoked an enemy with strength equal to his own, 
and Avhose resistance was quick, sudden, and unex- 
pected. The youth, seizing his antagonist by the 
right arm unawares with his left, and brandishing 
his sword in his right hand, let fall on him one tre- 
mendous blow, and repeated it again and again, till 
his soul parted from his body. Then while the at- 
tendants, eager to revenge the death of their master, 
were running to seize him, with the blade still reeking 
with the blood of his enemy, he nearly severed his own 
head from his body. 

END OF EIGHTH EPISODE. 



Such were the sanguinary events which, relating to 
the unfortunate family of the master of the house, were 
not only announced by the messenger, but by the por- 
tentous phenomena above related. So soon as the 
fatal intelligence was communicated to the unfortunate 
old man, he neither uttered a single word nor shed a 
tear, but, overwhelmed by the concurrence of so great 
misfortunes all together, he silently took the knife he 



Book IX. GARDENER AND SOLDIER. 321 

had just used to carve tlie viands and cut cheese for 
his guests, and following the example of his miserable 
son, drew it across his throat repeatedly, till his face 
fell forwards on the table, and a river of warm blood 
obliterated the gorj portentous drops that had pre- 
viously fallen upon it. Such is the melancholy history 
of the events of fortune, that in a sadly short period 
annihilated a whole family. At the same time the 
gardener, not without misfortunes of his own, having 
had nothing but tears to dine upon, silently and sorrow- 
fully clasped together his empty hands, and lamenting 
the fate of his host and family, mounted once more 
upon my back, and we returned home the way we 
came. 

Notwithstanding the way was the same as be- 
fore, our journey was marked by variety, and an 
accident befel my master. For a certain tall fellow, as 
it would appear by his dress, a soldier belonging to one 
of the legions, met us full butt as we were going along, 
and in a haughty, arrogant tone, said he to the gar- 
dener, " Whither art thou going with that unladen 
ass ? " My master not having yet recovered the effect 
of the appalling scene he had witnessed, and being 
ignorant of the language (f the soldier, who spoke in 
Latin, passed on without making any reply to the 
interrogation. Upon which the soldier, taking the 
silence, of the other as an affront, became highly in- 
dignant, and unable to control the insolence that 
naturally belonged to him, struck my master with a 

p 3 



322 GARDENEE AND SOLDIEK. Book IX. 

vine stick he held in ids hand, and pushed him off my 
back. The gardener, notwithstanding the ill usage, very 
humbly replied, that he did not understand the other's 
language, or know what he said. With that the soldier 
spoke in Greek, and said he, " Whither art thou taking 
that ass ? " " To the next city," replied the gardener. 
" But I want him," said the soldier, " and must needs 
take him along with om' other animals, to fetch the 
baggage of the commanding of&cer from the neigh- 
bouring village." So saying he seized hold of the 
halter and began to haul me along. Upon this the 
gardener wiping away the blood that was trickling from 
the wound made in his head by the vine stick, still 
preserving a civil quiet demeanour towards the soldier, 
calling him his comrade, and speaking even more sub- 
missively than before, besought him in the name of 
good fortune to let me go. For, said he, ''The jack- 
ass is not only sluggish, but given to the grievous 
complaint of tumbling down, Neither is he strong 
enough to carry hea^^ burdens. Nay, even with a light 
load of vegetables from my garden on his back, sadly 
doth he puff and blow." But the soldier was not 
satisfied with the excuses of the gardener, neither 
would he be prevailed upon by the most earnest en- 
treaties. On the contrary, leaping on my back, the 
more earnestly the other appealed to him the savager 
he grew. Bent apparently on doing my master a serious 
injury, he had shifted his hold on the vine stick in 
order to ckave liis skull with a large knob at the upper 



Book IX. GAEDENER AND SOLDIEE. 323 

end, when tlie gardener perceiving tlie manoeuvre, and 
being driven to his last resource, stooped down, as if 
to excite the soldier's compassion by embracing his 
knees. But no sooner was he thus bent to the ground 
almost double, than suddenly he laid hold of both his 
feet, tossed them at once upwards into the air, and 
gave him a heavy fall on the ground. 

When he was down he immediately began to beat 
liim with his fists, pimch him with his elbows, and 
lastly, snatching up a stone from the road, knocked him 
about the face, the hands, and sides with it. Mean- 
while, the soldier lying on Ms back, and so overpowered 
from the beginning that he could neither make resistance 
nor in the least defend liimself, declared, nevertheless, 
over and over again, that he would cut the gardener 
in pieces with his sword the moment he got upon his 
legs again. By which information the gardener profiting, 
wrested the sword from his hand ere long, and threw it 
away a long distance. Then he hit him again, and fell 
to pummelling him even harder than before, till the 
soldier, adopting the only possible means to save Ms 
life, feigned himself dead. Upon which the gardenet 
picked up his sword from the gi^ound, mounted on my 
back and rode me away, urging me all tlie while to my 
utmost speed. Not caring, however, under present 
circumstances, after the manner he had served the 
soldier, to return to his own garden, he directed my 
course straight to the city, where, calling at the 
dwelling house of an acquaintance, he related our peri- 






324 GARDENER AND SOLDIEE. Book IX. 

lous adventure, and threw Kimself on Ms friend's 
protection, earnestly entreating permission to conceal 
himself and his ass in the house for two, three, or more 
days, so that he might escape the penalty of the capital 
offence he had incurred. The inhabitant readily re- 
ceived him ; and not forgetful of his former terms of 
friendship with an old comrade, conducted him below 
to a warehouse, thrust him into a capacious chest, and 
covered him by the lid. For my part, they dragged 
me up several steps till my legs were almost bent 
double in the effort of mounting, and confined me in 
an upper chamber. 

The soldier meanwhile, as I learnt afterwards, after 
lying a considerable time on the ground where we left 
him, at last got up on his legs, tottering and staggering 
as if he had just emerged from a severe drinking bout ; 
and grievously bruised and wounded, contrived with 
the utmost difficulty to creep to the city, supported 
on a stick. When arrived there, he for some time 
swallowed in silence the affront he had received; 
for, ashamed of his own clumsiness and want of ready 
vigour, he entirely forbore to relate to the inhabitants 
what had happened to him. Meeting, however, at last 
with some of his fellow soldiers, he acquainted them 
with the whole of the occurrence. His comrades 
accordingly, not only on account of the disgrace he had 
undergone, but because of the loss of his sword, which 
subjected liim to the penalty attached to the breach of 
his military oath, agreed to hide him for some time in 



Book IX. GARDENER AND SOLDIER. 325 

their barracks ; and carefully noting down tlie marks 
upon our persons, tliey made diligent inquiries to dis- 
cover us. Vowing bitter vengeance against tbe assailant 
of their companion, they were not long in discovering 
a perfidious neighbour to betray to them the place of our 
concealment ; upon which they forthwith betook them- 
selves to the magistrates and laid a false accusation against 
my master. A valuable silver cup belonging to their 
commanding officer, lost, they said, on the road, had 
been found by a certain gardener, who had concealed 
himself in the house of one of his acquaintance, in order 
to avoid being compelled to restore the cup to its right 
owner. 

So soon as the magistrates were informed of all 
the particulars, such as the name of the commanding 
officer, the house where we were, etc., they knocked 
at the door of our habitation, and having called in a 
loud voice, and announced themselves to the host, told 
him they had indisputable information that we were con- 
cealed on his premises, and that it were better for him 
to deliver us up at once ; since by uselessly harbouring 
the delinquent, he would render himself, in his own per- 
son, amenable to capital punishment. Our host, notwith- 
standing, without showing any signs of trepidation, 
and anxious to save the life of a man whose depend.ence 
was in his friend's fidelity, undauntedly denied knowing 
anything at all about us, and maintained that for several 
preceding days he had never even set eyes on the 
gardener they were seeking. On the other hand the 



326 GARDENER AND SOLDIER. Book IX. 

soldiers swore hj tlie head of tlie emperor, that tlie 
gardener actually was in tlie house, and in no place 
else. Meanwhile our host persisted in his denial so 
obstinately, that the magistrates determined to make 
strict search in order to discover the culprit. Accord- 
ingly they ordered the lictors and other public func- 
tionaries to enter within doors for the purpose. Which 
command having been supposed to be obeyed and every 
creek and corner of the dwelling diligently examined, 
word was brought to the magistrates that neither man 
nor jackass were to be found within the threshold. 
Upon which the soldiers outside, the instant they heard 
the latter assertion, grew exceedingly clamorous and 
maintained a noisy altercation wdth our host ; violently 
calling on the name of Csesar to witness that we were 
in the house to a certainty, and he asserting the direct 
contrary, and loudly beseeching the divinity of the 
gods to bear him testimony. 

Such was the state of affairs in our domicile, when I 
hearing the disturbance below, and being a jackass of 
an unquiet, petulant, mighty inquisitive disposition, 
became irresistibly desirous of knowing the cause of all 
the tumult ; and accordingly stretching my head and 
neck out of a little window in my apartment that 
looked upon the street, the eyes of one of the soldiers 
happened to fall in a line with the shadow of myself 
that fell upon the ground, and he immediately betrayed 
me to his companions. Upon which all the soldiers 
immediately uttered a loud unanimous shout of triumph. 



Book IX. LUCIUS AND THE GAEDENER CAPTURED. 327 

and some of them instantly, without more ado, coming 
up the steps to the loft where I was, seized hold of me 
by the halter and led me down captive. They then 
began to search the house from top to bottom more 
narrowly than before, and accordingly discovering, and 
opening the chest in which the gardener was concealed, 
they dragged the wretched man from his hiding-place, 
and took him before the magistrates, by whom he was 
sent to the public gaol in order to suffer the penalty 
of the law for the capital offence he had committed. 
For my part, the incident of my looking out of the 
window furnished a subject of laughter and conversa- 
tion for a long time afterwards ; and indeed gave rise 
to a happy conceit, to which the oft repeated proverb, 
" Detect a peeping ass by his shadow," is to be traced 
to its origin. 



328 LUCIUS'S NEW MASTER. Book X. 



BOOK X. 



Departure of Lucius with Ms new Master, the Soldier — Their 
arrival at the House of a Decurion. 

Ninth Episode. — TJie wicked Stepmother. 

Lucius sold to two brothers, Cook and Confectioner of a great 
Personage — Preference of Lucius to Hun i an Food — His 
depredations discovered — Behaviour of Lucius at the Supper- 
table — The Company delighted at Lucius's Accomplish- 
ments and Sagacity — Preparations for a Gladiatorial Exhi- 
bition — The great Personage rides Lucius to Corinth — 
The great Personage proposes to make Lucius perform at the 
Amphitheat]*e. 

Tenth Episode. — A Woman condemned to he thrown to 
Wild Beasts. 

Dramatic representation at the Amphitheatre — Lucius makes 
his escape and gallops to Cenchreas. 



What afterwards became of mj master, the gardener, 
I do not know ; but the soldier who had been so beau- 
tifully beaten because he could not help it, came the 
next morning to the stable where I was, and untying 
me from the manger without any person saying a word 
to hinder him, led me away forthwith. Thence he 
brought me to his barracks, such at least I believed 
the place to be, where having loaded me with his own 



Book X. BAGGAGE OF A ROMAN SOLDIER. 329 

baggage and accoutrements, and armed, and ornamented 
me in grand military style, lie brought me forth into 
the road. In the first place I carried on my back a 
helmet which shone exceedingly bright ; and a shield, 
whose polish was even more brilliant than that of the 
helmet ; and lastly, a spear, remarkable for the length 
of its handle. With which latter, — more in fact for the 
sake of terrifying poor travellers on the road than in 
strict compliance with regulations, and to complete the 
style of marching order, — he took care conspicuously 
to crown the heap of the various other articles that 
composed my load. We travelled along a tolerably 
good road through the fields, till we arrived at a 
small city ; where, instead of going to the inn, we put up 
in the house of a certain decurion, and I was delivered 
over in charge of one of the servant boys, during the 
absence of the soldier, who instantly departed in order 
to make the best of his way to his officer, the com- 
mander of a thousand men. 

We remained in this city for several days, during 
which period a very dreadful crime was committed 
there, of which, reader, I feel inclined to include the 
relation in my narrative, in order that thou as well as 
myself may be made acquainted with it. 



330 NINTH EPISODE. Book X. 



NINTH EPISODE. 

THE WICKED STEP-MOTHEK. 

The master of tlie liouse to wliicli my stable belonged 
had a son deeply versed in literature, a yonng man 
whose studious habits consequently rendered him also 
remarkable for piety and modest behaviour, a son in 
short such as, reader, you might wish to have of 
your own, or one like him. When he was very 
young his mother died, and his father contracted 
a second marriage, and by the last alliance had another 
son, a youth upwards of twelve years old at the 
time in question. Now the step-mother, whose beauty 
ever since the day of her marriage had reflected 
credit on the preference shown her by her hus- 
band, rather than her morals ; whether in conse- 
quence of the insurmountable power of fate, or from 
natural want of principle, conceived a violent attach- 
ment for her son-in-law. Wherefore, gentle reader, 
thou art to know at the outset, that thou wilt have to 
lay aside the sock and, ascending to the buskin, peruse 
a tragical rather than a comic fable. 

At all events, while the little Cupid was yet in his 
infancy, and unskilful in the elements of his art strove 
with feeble strength, the patient with comparative 
ease repressed her rising colour, and successfully re- 



Book X. NINTH EPISODE. 331 

sisted his attacks; but becoming graduallj more and 
more powerful, when at last — 

" Deep witMn her glowing soul — 
He ruled and reigned without control ;" * 

then, totally succumbing to the raging sway of the 
divinity, and concealing the disease of the mind under 
pretence of bodily ailment, she suddenly feigned her- 
self ill. Now, that the indications of detriment to 
the health and appearance in persons actually labouring 
under sickness, and those in love, are similai* in both 
cases without any perceptible difference, is a fact noto- 
rious to every body ; and, reader, you might well have 
imagined, judging from the alteration in her counte- 
nance, the paleness of her cheeks, the languor of her 
eyes, her tottering knees, her disturbed sleep, and her 
sighs, that through the slowness of the torment were 
impetuous and frequent, that her complaint was simply 
to be attributed to the usual alternations of a fever. 
But alas for the obtuse heads of her doctors, — she also 
wept 1 Wience then the hurried pulse, the unusual 
flush, the laboured respiration, the incessant tossings 
and turnings from side to side ? Wkj, good gods, let 
any one learned in love and experienced in its sensa- 
tions see the mind rather than the body overwhelmed 

* The passage of which the above well-known lines of Dr. 
Jackson are a sufficiently near translation is as follows : — " At 
ubi completis igne vesano totis prEecordiis, immodice bacchatus 
amor exsestuabat. " 



332 NINTH EPISODE. Book X. 

witli raging inflammation ; and how easily compre- 
hensible were the distinction, although he be nothing 
of a doctor ! 

While such was the state of the love-sick stepmother, 
her silence, long protracted, becoming more and more 
unbearable, and the concealment of the real cause of her 
malady no longer possible ov/ing to the continual presence 
of the numerous attendants, the awful secret made its way 
at last to her son-in-law, who, the moment the intelligence 
was conveyed to him, determined to escape from the 
dreadful hurricane of fortune, and by instant flight seek 
shelter from the disgrace that threatened himself and 
his family. Accordingly, fortified in his resolve by the 
corroborative advice of an able and aged counsellor who 
once had been his tutor, he departed from his father's 
domicile without more ado. When the unexpected 
news of the young man's departure reached the ears of 
the stepmother, her turbulent impatience of his absence 
immediately stimulated her to revenge, and with extra- 
ordinary precipitancy hurried her from love's topmost 
height to the lowest abyss of hatred. Having made the 
discovery that her son-in-law had taken refuge at a cer- 
tain distant farm in the country belonging to his father, 
she forthwith commenced the execution of a nefarious 
plot against his life, and for that purpose summoned to 
her presence a reprobate old slave who had lived with 
her before her marriage, and formed a portion of her 
dowry. Considering the readiest manner of attaining 
her object to be through the means of poison, she com- 



Book X. NINTH EPISODE. 333 

municated her perfidious designs without ceremony to 
the villain her attendant, who accordingly, being a 
person previously hardened to all manner of wickedness, 
procured a drug of the most deadly quality for the 
purpose. Having returned with a poison of certain 
and instantaneous power, the stepmother, intent on de- 
stroying the life of her guileless relative, infused it in 
a cup of wine with insane impatience ; and anxious and 
over eager to have the fatal draught ready prepared 
beforehand, left the diluted mixture to await the hoped 
for opportunity. While the mistress and her slave were 
secretly laying their heads together, and consulting 
upon the most appropriate method of administering the 
potion to their victim, the younger boy, the real son 
of the nefarious woman, who, after the laborious stu- 
dies of the morning, had returned home and eaten his 
dinner, being thirsty, and totally ignorant of the plot 
against his brother, happening by chance to perceive the 
cup that contained the poison, took hold of it and swal- 
lowing the entire contents at a draught, imbibed the 
death intended for his elder brother, and dropped in- 
stantly lifeless on the ground. 

The sudden and unexpected death of the youth ter- 
rified the tutor beyond measure, who uttered such loud 
and lamentable cries that he alarmed the whole family ; 
while amid the numerous assemblage, so soon as the 
noxious beverage was discovered to be the cause of the 
fatal calamity, various were the different opinions and 
presumptions relating to the authors of the execrable deed. 



334 NINTH EPISODE. Book X. 

Meanwhile the wicked woman, a singular specimen of 
a malignant stepmother, — unmoved at the shocking I 
death of her child, unsmitten bj her own infanticidal 
conscience, alike callous to the misfortunes and grief of 
her husband, and the melancholy preparations for the 
funeral, but on the contrary wholly absorbed in her 
thirst of vengeance, — meditated the further destruction 
of her family. Accordingly, with infinite effrontery, 
she told her husband, whose return home, being absent 
at the moment at a little distance, she had hastened by 
the dispatch of a messenger, that her son-in-law, pre- 
vious to his flight, had administered the fatal potion to 
the youth his brother, and having been detected by 
herself in the commission of the act, had threatened to 
kill her with a sword. 

The unhappy father seeing, on his return home, the 
funeral rites of his younger son performing before his 
face, and not only having to lament the death of his 
younger but to bewail the loss of his elder son also, was 
unable to withstand the tempest of his misfortunes, and 
entirely overwhelmed with grief. Stimulated by the 
treacherous lamentations of a wife still dear to him, and 
conscious that his elder son must forfeit his life for the 
crime of fratricide, his natural love for his surviving off- 
spring changed to utter hatred. The wretched old man 
accordingly, so soon as the pompous funeral ceremonies 
of his deceased son were concluded, while the tears were 
yet wet upon his cheeks, and his white hair still begrimed 
with dirty ashes, proceeded straight from the funeral 



Book X. NINTH EPISODE. 335 

pile to the Ibrum. There, ignorant of the treachery of 
his wicked wife, throwing himself at the feet of the 
decnrions, he denounced the only son that remained to 
him, not only as the murderer of his brother, but as a 
fratricide, who also had made an attempt to assassinate 
his stepmother. Weeping, beseeching, and exerting 
his passionate feelings to their utmost force against the 
accused, such was the degree of commiseration he ex- 
cited among the senate, and such the indignation aroused 
by the pathetic expression of his sorrow, that the sensa- 
tion, speedily communicated to the people, increased 
gradually to such a pitch that, becoming impatient of 
the tedious formality of establishing the accusation on 
incontestable proof, and conducting the criminal's de- 
fence through the premeditated and tortuous windings 
of the advocate, they shouted loudly and simultaneously, 
" Let the public inflict the punishment for a public 
crime. Let us stone him to death ! " Upon this the 
magistrates, apprehensive on their own account, and 
fearing lest the public indignation proceeding from 
a small beginning might end in the destruction of order 
and in downright sedition, partly conciliating the de- 
curions, and partly exerting their influence by all 
means in their power to pacify the people, implored 
that the trial might be allowed to proceed in a regular 
manner after the forms of their ancestors. So that the 
allegations of both parties being heard alike, and a sen 
tence conformable to the civil law being duly pro- 
nounced, no one might in a time of profound peace be 



336 NINTH EPISODE. Book X. 

condemned witlio-iit a hearing, nor a dire example of 
barbaric ferocity and tbe weakness of tbe governing 
autborities be banded down to posterity. 

Tbe latter sound advice having been received with 
general satisfaction, tbe crier was immediately com- 
manded to convene a meeting of tbe senate. Upon 
wbicb exclaimed tbe crier aloud, " Let tbe senators 
assemble in tbe senate bouse." Tbe senators, in obedi- 
ence to tbe proclamation, having entered tbe building, 
and each having taken the proper place according to 
his rank, tbe crier, again exclaiming in a loud voice, 
bade the accuser stand forth. In Hke manner the 
criminal was also summoned by tbe proclamation of the 
crier, Avho then finally, after the custom of the law 
of Athens, as practised at the Areopagus, ex- 
horted the advocates on both sides to commence their 
pleadings without superfluous preamble, and in a tone 
void of appeal to the feelings for commiseration. 

That such was the manner of proceeding on the occa- 
sion in question, I learnt from overhearing the conver- 
sation of very many people ; though so far as regards the 
precise words of the orators, the extent of their speeches, 
the gist of their altercations ; how the advocate of the 
accuser stirred up a conflagration, and how the advo- 
cate of the criminal extinguished the fire that the other 
created ; all these are matters that, reader, I, having 
been all the time absent and tied up to my manger, 
cannot possibly inform thee. Confining myself, there- 
fore., to the facts I was duly informed of, I am never- 



Book X. NINTH EPISODE. 337 

theless enabled to state for tliy edification that, so soon 
as tlie speakers on both, sides had concluded their ar- 
guments, the senators being unwilling to decide a 
question of such importance on mere suspicion and 
conjecture, determined that the truth of the accusation 
should be made manifest by certain testimony, and, 
above all things, ordered the slave of the step-mother, 
who was beheved by common report to be cognizant of 
her criminality, to be brought forward and examined. 

The villain being accordingly produced and interro- 
gated, evinced notwithstanding no manner of fear or 
trepidation; but, unawed by the impending serious 
consequences of the investigation, and the thronged 
appearance of the. senate-house, or, at least, callous 
to the remonstrances of his own guilty conscience, 
persisted in asserting a string of his own sheer 
inventions precisely as if he were telling the truth. 
" The young man," he said, " indignant at the 
conduct of his step-mother, and eager to revenge her 
treatment of him, had summoned him, the witness, to his 
presence, and commanded him to put her son to death." 
He farther added, " that the young man offered him a 
large sum of money to ensure his secrecy ; and on his 
refusal to perform the act, threatened to put him to 
death." Moreover, '* that he gave him poison that he 
had mixed with his o^vn hand to be administered to 
his half-brother, which he having delayed to do, 
the other, fearing his intention was to produce the 
potion in evidence against him, subsequently gave it to 

Q 



338 NINTH EPISODE. Book X. 

his half-brother himself." All the above facts were 
stated by the scoundrel with such an extraordinary 
degree of plausibility and affected agitation, that the 
trial was immediately brought to a conclusion, and sen- 
tence pronounced against the young man. Neither did 
a single one of the decurions raise an objection in his 
favour, but all and every one of them unanimously 
condemned him to be sewn up in a sack, and thrown 
into the sea. Notwithstanding, however, their unani- 
mity, they were proceeding, according to invariable 
custom, to deposit each his written billet bearing the 
fate of the criminal written upon it, in a brazen urn, — 
after which act the life of the criminal is put forthwith 
into the hands of the executioner beyond the reach of 
appeal, — when an old physician, of well-tried probity 
and remarkable mfluence in the city, who happened to 
be in the senate -house among the spectators, suddenly 
stepped forward and placed his hand upon the aperture 
of the brazen urn. Thus having prevented the possi- 
bility of a billet being placed in it by any person what- 
ever, he addressed the court as follows : — 

" During the course of a long life," said he, *' having 
had the satisfaction of gaining the approbation of my 
fellow-citizens, I cannot patiently submit to see the 
crime of homicide manifestly committed, an innocent 
person arraigned on a false accusation, and yourselves, 
through the artifices of a lying slave, induced to falsify 
those judgments in which all of you are strictly bounden 
by your oaths to render strict justice. Neither, on the 



Book X. NINTH EPISODE. 339 

other hand, am I capable of trampling on the religion 
of the gods, and deceiving my own conscience by 
making a rash, unadvised statement; but listen, and 1 
will relate to you what are the real circumstances of the 
case now on trial before you. That villainous slave, 
some days ago, came to me, and wanted to buy some 
deadly poison, which he said a certain person had occa- 
sion for, who, being afflicted with a lingering incurable 
disease, was desirous of ridding himself of life that had 
become a torment. I gave him a potion at the price 
of a hundred golden solidi; but perceiving from the 
rapid utterance and inconsistent language of the repro- 
bate that he had a wicked object in contemplation, and 
foreseeing that a future question might arise out of the 
transaction, I took the precaution of saying to him, in- 
stead of receiving outright the money he had agreed 
to pay, ' 'Tis possible that the gold thou hast brought 
with thee may be light in weight or adulterated. 
Put, therefore, the pieces into this bag, and seal the 
bag with thy seal, and to-morrow shall the money be 
sent to the money-changer, and put to the proof The 
slave agreed to what I said, and accordingly sealed the 
bag with the impression of his seal ; and this same bag, 
the moment I saw him brought into court to give his 
testimony, I directed one of my people to go to my 
shop as fast as he could possibly run, and bring hither 
immediately. Behold, here it is. I now produce it to 
confront him before his face. Let him look at it ; let 
him examine the impression of his own seal ; and then 

Q 2 



340 NINTH EPISODE. Book X. 

let liim explain liow tlie accused party can be made 
answerable for tlie poison tliat lie himself bonglit." 

At tbis moment a violent fit of trembling seized the 
culprit, bis countenance was overspread by a deadly, 
scarcely human paleness, and all his limbs were suffused 
by a cold perspiration, Eesting in irregular alterna- 
tions, first on one foot and then on the otlier, scratch- 
ing his head now on this side and again on that, and 
muttering a parcel of unintelligible words with his 
mouth gaping half open ; such was his appearance that 
not a single person in the court had the least doubt of 
his guilt. Notmthstanding, recovering ere long his 
former craftiness, he persisted to deny the fact most 
strenuously, and affirmed that the doctor had told a 
lie. The doctor finding his character impeached by 
the "soLlain in public, and stimulated by the sense of his 
religious obligation, multiplied his arguments, and used 
all the means in his power to confute the imputation 
cast upon Mm, wliile the magistrates ordered the 
officers of the court to seize the hand of the slave and 
compare the impression of the seal on the money bag 
with the iron ring on his finger. The suspicion pre- 
^aously entertained being fully corroborated by the ex- 
periment, the senators instantly resolved to put the 
culprit to the torture. Accordingly the necessary im- 
plements used according to the custom of the Greeks, 
namely, the wheel, the wooden horse, etc., having 
been previously ready on the spot, the torture was im- 
mediately administered to him before all the spectators. 



Book X. NINTH EPISODE. 341 

Hardened, however, by wonderful obstinacy, he bore 
the stripes, and all the torments, nay, even the appli- 
cation of the red-hot irons without wincing or flinching. 
Upon which, exclaimed the doctor, ''I will not suffer 
this young man, no, by Hercules, I will not suffer him 
to receive a punishment at your hands contrary to 
justice, nor allow yon villain to escape the penalty of 
his crime, and make a laughing stock of your tribunals. 
But listen and I wiU fortify the truth of my allegation 
by another convincing proof. 

' ' When he asked me for the deadly poison, I felt 
fully sensible, since the use of medicine is to preserve 
life and not destroy it, that it was inconsistent with my 
profession to furnish him with the means of producing 
death ; but at the same time I considered that were I 
to decline to give what he required, my unreasonable 
refusal would prompt him to another method of com- 
mitting the crime. For he might have got the poison 
elsewhere, or have had recourse to a sword or other 
such weapon to attain his object. Accordingly I gave 
him a poisonous though not mortal potion, composed of 
mandrake, celebrated for producing a heavy continuous 
state of somnolency, a trance equal in appearance to 
very death itself Now, therefore, notwithstanding 
that that most desperate of criminals, certain, had he 
confessed, of undergoing the utmost penalty of the law, 
as ordained by our ancestors, bore bravely as the lighter 
evil the tortures inflicted just now upon him ; yet, 
nevertheless, you have now the means of knowing to a 



342 NINTH EPISODE. Book X. 

certainty whetliei tlie potion administered were the 
same that I mixed with my own hands or not. For 
if it be the same, the lad is still alive, and rests and 
sleeps; nay presently, about this very hour, will be 
shaking off his torpid state, and return to the light of 
day. If, on the contrary, his life be thoroughly extin- 
guished — if he be actually dead — why then, forsooth, 
you may adopt any farther means you think proper to 
investigate the cause of his decease." The above 
address of the doctor being received with universal 
approbation, there arose immediately a general rush of 
people hurrying with the utmost haste out of the senate 
house to the sepulchre, where the body of the youth, 
supposed to be deceased, was deposited. Such was the 
impetuous degree of curiosity among them, that not 
a single person remained behind, but all the spectators, 
including persons of first rank, people of the middle 
classes, senators and all, burst forth together in a 
troop. 

And now behold the father of the youth had no 
sooner, with his own hands, removed the lid of the 
receptacle where his son was laid, than the latter, 
just recovered from his death-like trance, and arisen 
as it were from the dead, was tenderly embraced 
by his aged parent, who, overcome with joyful ec- 
stasy, and unable to give utterance to words capable 
of expressing his emotion, assisted him on his feet, 
and presented him to all the people. Then, the 
father having straightway led his son, covered as he 



Book X. NINTH EPISODE. 343 

was witli the grave- clothes closely wrapped about his 
body, to the senate-house, the crimes of the wicked 
slave, and the iniquity of the still more wicked mis- 
tress, were fully and clearly developed. And now 
when the naked truth stood exposed before all the 
people, the step-mother was condemned to perpe- 
tual banishment, the slave was crucified, the good 
doctor, in consequence of the happy result of the trance 
he had produced, was rewarded with the hundred 
golden solidi, and the fortunes of the old man, the 
father, were conducted to a remarkable and romantic 
termination by divine Providence. For he who, a 
moment before, had been doomed to feel the agony of 
a total bereavement of his children, now, — within the 
smallest possible particle of time, a very speck as it 
were of duration, — found himself all of a sudden the 
once more happy father of two fine young men. 

END OF NINTH EPISODE. 



While the circumstances of the above tale were in 
progress, I, for my part, was also subject to various 
undulations of the waves of fate. The soldier who, 
though nobody sold me, had contrived to buy me, and 
though he paid nothing for me had made me his pro- 



344 LUCIUS SOLD TO TWO BROTHERS. Book X. 

pertj, having received an order to proceed with letters 
addressed to the great"; prince at Eome, sold me, pre- 
vious to departing in obedience to the command, for the 
sum of eleven denarii. My new purchasers were two 
brothers, both the servants of a certain very rich man, 
who jointly lived' together in their master's house in 
the neighbourhood. One was employed as confectioner, 
to bake bread and make sweetmeats; the other was 
cook, who concocted rich gravies, and stewed the 
mincemeats and hashes over the fire. Being thus mem- 
bers of the same household, they occupied the same 
apartment, and lived a life in common with one 
another, and they were induced to buy me for a beast 
of burden to carry the various pots, kettles, and other 
utensils they had need of when their master left his 
home on a journey through the provinces. For my 
part, I had never since I was a jackass experienced 
such a degree of benevolence from Fortune as while 
I lived with these two brothers, for they actually 
treated me like one of themselves, and as a third com- 
panion. Besides, my masters used every evening to 
bring home from their lord's table to our apartment 
numerous fragments of the very splendid, sumptuous 
entertainment, such as pieces of roast-pig, fish, poultry, 
savoury dishes in abundance, bread, cakes, sugar-plums, 
sweetmeats, and all manner of beautiful candies. With 
all which dainties, whenever my masters went to the 
bath every evening, and locked me up alone in the 
apartment, I used to fill my belly most gloriously. 



Book X. LUCIUS EATS HUMAN FOOD. 345 

For I was hardly sucli a fool, or rather such an ass in 
grain, on seeing such delicate morsels sent from heaven 
as it were on purpose that I might eat them, as to leave 
a sweet repast, and sup upon harsh hay. 

For a very considerable time all these thievish ma- 
noeuvres succeeded charmingly, particularly as at first, 
being timid and cautious, I was accordingly careful to 
select a little here, and a little there, from among the 
kinds that happened to be the most abundant ; so that 
my masters, especially as they had no idea of an ass 
playing any such a trick, never missed the articles. 
But when, through continued success, the fear of detec- 
tion became diminished, and, rejecting everything 
coarse and stale, I recklessly licked up the sweetmeats 
and devoured the prime portions exclusively, then did 
Suspicion pierce the hearts of the two brothers with 
her pungent sting. For never imagining it possible 
that I was the perpetrator of the deed in question, 
while all the time their losses happened regularly every 
day, mutual distrust began to arise between them, and 
each in secret believed the other guilty of the most 
base description of robbery. Meanwhile they con- 
tinually kept an accurate account of everything, and 
exerted their energies more and more, in hopes of dis- 
covering the offender ; till one at last, departing from 
the reserve that both had hitherto maintained, thus 
addressed the other : '' Yerily," said he, "thy conduct 
is neither like a man nor a brother ! Thus to increase 
thy share of our perquisites by cribbing the greater 

Q 3 



346 THE BROTHERS QUARREL, Book X. 

portion, and then making an equal division with 
myself of the remainder 1 Let us dissolve our agree- 
ment, forsooth, provided thou art not content with the 
terms of our partnership ; and, at all events, live as 
brothers. Otherwise no one can say when the discord 
arising between us on account of our continual losses 
may come to a termination." "Why," replied the 
other, " by Hercules, I admire thy impudence, thus to 
accuse me, and be the first to pick a quarrel about 
things thou hast stolen thyself; while I, on the con- 
trary, for a very long period, have been lamenting the 
loss in silence, rather than make up my mind to accuse 
thee, my brother, of such shabby pilfering. Well is it, 
at all events, that thou hast spoken thy mind freely, or 
a privy grudge might have arisen between us, and 
both, forsooth, instigated to a lofty pitch of fraternal 
contention, like Eteocles and Polynices, might have 
fallen victims." The bickerings between the brothers 
having been carried on in the above strain for some 
time longer, while each solemnly declared to the other 
that he had purloined nothing at all, nor been guilty of 
any manner of fraud, they at last came to a mutual 
determination to lay their heads together, and use aU 
manner of contrivances to discover the robber of their 
common property. " For," said they, " although there 
is no living creature in the room except the ass, and 
asses are not given to eat the things we speak of, yet 
notwithstanding the choicest morsels disappear every 
day. Neither can it be flies that devour such masses 



Book X. HIS DEPREDATIONS DISCOVERED. 347 

of dainties, for of flies so big as the Harpies of old, tliat 
robbed Pbineus of Ms dinner, tbere are none now-a- 
days." 

Wbile matters were tbus proceeding, I, for my part, 
procured an excellent supper every nigbt, and my 
paunch was fully distended with human food. My 
body became plump and fat ; my skin, well lined with 
tallow, grew soft and sleek ; and my coat, thus flourish- 
ing by generous nutriment, began to shine gloriously. 
But tliis comeliness of appearance was the means of 
raising a suspicion of the propriety of my behaviour ; 
for my ameliorated condition, and especially the 
breadth of my back, astonished my masters, who per- 
ceiving at the same time that my hay remained un- 
touched every day, directed accordingly their entire 
attention to watch my proceedings. In pursuance of 
which determination, the next evening, instead of 
going to the bath at the usual hour, they waited outside 
our apartment, after they had locked the door, and 
peeping through a crevice in one of the planks while, 
with outstretched neck, I was busily munching the 
provisions that lay exposed in all parts of the room, 
they detected me in the very fact. Wonderstruck at 
the monstrosity before their eyes, — an ass feeding on 
savoury meats and human victuals, — they immediately 
fell into a fit of laughing ready to burst their sides, 
and, entirely regardless of their loss, called in, first one 
of their fellow-servants, and then another, till finally 
the greater part of the household were assembled to 



348 LUCIUS AT THE SUPPER-TABLE. Book X. 

view the wonderful spectacle. While thus engaged, 
and observing to one another the gluttonous appetite 
of an animal of so sluggish disposition, their laughter 
was so loud, so general, and lasted for so long a time, 
that the lord of the establishment, who happened to be 
passing by at the moment, was attracted to the spot in 
consequence. Inquiring what pleasant occurrence had 
excited risibility among his household, and being told 
the reason, he too, together with the others, put his 
eye to the door, and spying tlirough the cranny, was 
so exceedingly delighted at what he saw, that he 
actually laughed till his bowels ached. At last he 
ordered the door of the apartment to be opened, and 
coming into the room, stood close, and observed me 
very attentively. Meanwhile, the merriment of the 
people about me inspired me with additional confi- 
dence, so that, imagining that one side at least of 
Fortune's countenance had begun to smile on me, 
I steadily ate on without feeling disturbed in the 
least. 

Finally, the lord of the household became so exhi- 
larated at the novelty of my performance, that he 
determined to introduce me, nay, actually with his own 
hands conducted me into the supper-room, and ordered 
from the table, which was already laid, all manner of 
things good to eat to be placed before me. Provided 
accordingly with meats uncut, and dishes that no one 
yet had tasted, I fell to work at everything they 
offered me as if I were really hungry, although, in 



Book X. LUCIUS DRINKS WINE. 349 

fact, my belly was nearly as full as it would hold 
already. But I was tlius desirous to please the lord of 
the household, and gain his approbation, while the 
guests, on their part, scrupulously selecting everything 
the most likely to be abhorrent to the taste of a jack- 
ass, gave me, as if on purpose to put my politeness to 
the test, meat seasoned with assafoetida, fat fowls 
highly peppered, fish soused in foreign sauces, &c. 
At last a buffoon, who sat at table among the 
guests, exclaimed, while the whole company were in a 
roar of laughter, " A drop to drink for our comrade. 
Grive him a cup of wine." Upon which, the lord, 
approving the buffoon's proposal, replied, " Eight 
said, rogue ; well hast thou spoken to the purpose ; 
verily, our companion may take it kindly ; nay, have 
no objection to the wine, though 'twere mulled. Ho ! 
boy," continued he, addressing himself to the servant, 
*' take yon gold .cup; be sure thou rinse it carefully, 
and fill it with wine well mulled. Then offer the cup 
to my parasite, and, harkye, tell him I drink to his 
good health." All the while the boy was preparing 
the wine as his master bade him, the guests remained 
in a state of intense curiosity to witness the result of 
the experiment ; though I was not alarmed in the least 
degree; but, notwithstanding the vessel was a very 
large one, the moment the cup was brought to me, I 
very quietly and deliberately, screwing the extremities 
of my lips about my tongue, swallowed the whole of its 
contents at a draught. Upon which a general shout of 



350 LUCIUS'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Book X. 

applause resounded round tlie table, and immediately 
all the guests joined simultaneously in drinking my 
health. 

The lord of the household was now so thoroughly 
overwhelmed with delight at my accomplishments, that 
having summoned to his presence the two servants who 
had bought me, he ordered a sum of money to be given 
them equal to four times the price they had paid for 
me, and then had me delivered over to the charge of 
one of his freedmen whom he held in especial favour, 
and who lived in the neighbourhood in easy circum- 
stances. This person, in pursuance of the earnest in- 
structions given him to take great care of me, treated 
me with extraordinary humanity, and fed me with the 
very best of everything. He moreover took much 
pains, in order to deserve the better of his patron, and 
contribute to his amusement, to teach me many clever 
tricks. For example, first, he taught me to place my- 
self in a reclining position at table, leaning on my elbow, 
and afterwards to pretend to be fighting with an adver- 
sary and paw and strike out with my fore feet. Also 
to rear up, and dance upon my hind feet, while my fore 
feet Were elevated high in the air. But what of all 
gained me the most admiration was the manner he 
showed me to express my wants and preferences by 
signs instead of words. Thus to testify my approval of 
anything, or give an answer in the affirmative, I tossed 
up my head. If I had occasion to give a negative, I 
held my head low down. If I was thirsty, I looked 



Book X. HIS FAME SPREADS. 351 

towards tlie butler, and to show I wanted sometMng to 
drink, winked my eyelids at Mm alternately one after 
another. 

All these manoeuvres I could, -to say the truth, have 
performed, and a great deal more into the bargain, with- 
out any instructions at all, but I was afraid to do such 
things of my own accord without the aid of a master ; 
for I thought that the performance, being viewed in 
the light of an evil omen, I might be regarded as a 
monstrous prodigy, and my fattened carcase thrown, 
with its throat cut, to the vultures. Meanwhile fame 
spread abroad my renown among the people, and my 
reputation was daily increasing. I was accounted, in 
short, a creature that by his sagacity had already ren- 
dered his master a person of distinguished notoriety. 
" For," said the people, ''here is a man forsooth who 
hath an aSs his guest and companion, an ass that wres- 
tles, an ass that dances, an ass that plays all manner of 
tricks, an ass that understands all that is said to him, 
and an ass that clearly expresses by signs all he desires 
to say." 

But, reader, before I go further, 'tis fit I should 
do now what I ought to have done in the beginning, 
acquaint thee who this new master of mine was, and 
whence he came. 

The name of the lord of the household to whom I 
belonged was Thyasus, and his native place Corinth, 
the principal city in Achaia. Having already arrived 
at the various grades of civic honours and fulfilled the 



352 PREPARATIONS FOR Book X. 

several appointments successively step by step, lie at 
last, at the time in question, had been nominated one 
of the quinquennial magistrates, — a dignity to which, 
as well by reason of his family distinction as his social 
position, he was duly entitled. Accordingly, on such 
a signal occasion of aggrandisement, being desirous of 
doing something worthy the importance of the new 
office, and extending his liberality to the utmost pitch, 
he engaged to indulge the pubKc with a gladiatorial 
spectacle of three days' duration. He had therefore 
come to Thessaly on public grounds entirely, for the 
express purpose of purchasing the most noble speci- 
mens of wild beasts, and the most celebrated gladiators ; 
and now having completed his collection, and arranged 
to his satisfaction all the preliminaries of his entertain- 
ment, he was about to retrace his steps back to Corinth 
without more ado. 

At last, all preparations for his return home being 
completed, I was decorated by my master's orders with 
a coloured saddle, covered with purple cloth and golden 
trappings, an embroidered surcingle, a silver bit, and 
abundance of little tinkling bells hung about me, and 
thus caparisoned for the journey was brought forth on 
the morning of our departure. And now my master, 
regardless of his splendid Thessalian horses, and Galil- 
ean steeds, whose generous pedigree entailed value and 
dignity on their progeny, and disdaining to occupy any 
one of his many beautiful carriages or chariots which, 
some covered and others open, followed in the rear of 



Book X. A GLADIATORIAL EXHIBITION. 353 

the cavalcade,, mounted on my back instead, and all the 
way we went talked to me very lovingly — declaring 
particularly, among various similar kindly expressions, 
how truly happy he considered himself, to be the 
possessor of a creature not only capable of bearing him 
on its back like a beast of burden, but which also served 
for his companion. After travelling for some days 
successively and completing our journey partly by 
land and partly by sea, we arrived at Corinth, the 
place of our destination. On our approach the citizens 
assembled about us in vast numbers ; not so much, as 
it then appeared to my judgment, for the sake of Ten- 
dering due honor to my master Thyasus, as desirous 
of seeing myself. Indeed, such was the eagerness with 
which the people, anxious to behold the performance 
of my tricks, crowded together and exerted them- 
selves, for the purpose of obtaining their object gratis, 
that my master, considering that during the subsequent 
period of our sojourn in the city he might make me 
a source of considerable emolument, ordered the door 
of my stable to be locked, and admitting one person at 
a time, separately, at a good round price of admission, 
raked together, by such means, a large sum of money 
every day. Especially a fashionable and wealthy Grreek 
lady, who among the rest of the people attended to 
witness my performances, took a wonderful fancy to 
me, and delighted with my ludicrous tricks would fain 
have had me sent to her house for a private represen- 
tation. But my master had disposed otherwise of my 



354 DETERMINATION TO PRODUCE Book X. 

services, and having paid to the freedman, my in- 
structor, a large additional sum of money, over and 
above the price at which he bought me, determined to 
produce me as one of the public performers of the 
amphitheatre, at the ensuing spectacle. 

Meanwhile this resolution of my master was the 
source to me of no trifling degree of uneasiness, and 
in the intermediate period, awaiting the day of the 
festival, great indeed was . my anxiety, destitute as I 
was of human hands, feet, toes, and fingers, and with 
nought to serve my purpose but round solid hoofs, how 
I might ultimately acquit myself. But my sadness was 
continually illuminated by a slender ray of hope, and 
my spirit was comforted by a pleasing anticipation that 
at last my sufferings were about to be brought to a 
speedy termination. For spring, thought I, ere long, 
beginning to dawn, so soon as the trees are decked with 
purple blossoms, and the meadows clothed with their 
flowery mantle, roses bursting in glittering splendour 
from their thorny cells and scenting with their spicy 
odours the ambient air, will dissolve the enchantment 
of Lucius, and restore him to his proper form. 

At last, after several days were consumed in the 
eagerness of expectation, the first day of the public 
spectacle duly arrived, and I was conducted to the 
amphitheatre with much pomp and ceremony. Thither 
I was accompanied by a vast concourse of people, and 
having arrived at the entrance was made to remain 
outside the gate, until the ludicrous scenic representa- 



Book X. LUCIUS AT THE AMPHITHEATEE. 355 

tions and tlie dances, wHch composed tlie first portion 
of tlie entertainment, were concluded. There for a 
little wHle, not only had I an opportunity of greedily 
feeding on the fine green fresh grass that grew upon the 
spot, but as the door or gate was open I had the 
pleasure also of refreshing my inquisitive eyes with an 
agreeable view of the proceedings within. Wherefore, 
reader, will I endeavour to give thee also an idea of the 
spectacle. 

In the first place then, I beheld the Grrecian Pyrrhic 
dance performed by a numerous band of youths and 
damsels, all in the flower of their age, and conspicuous 
for their beauty. Clad in glittering dresses and moving 
with graceful gesticulation according to a regular 
pre-arranged figure, sometimes they struck off in a 
circle, twisting and twining their bodies as they whirled 
round and round, joined hand in hand; then they 
would form a double row that meeting at one extremity 
assumed the appearance of a wedge; whence again 
they would change the figure to a hollow square ; and 
afterwards breaking off and separating into two troops, 
they continued their various reciprocal evolutions, their 
repeated turnings and windings, until suddenly, at the 
sound of a trumpet, all came to a termination. 

So soon as the dancing was over, preparations were 
immediately commenced for a dramatic spectacle, repre- 
senting the *' Judgment of Paris." Accordingly, when 
the curtain was removed and the hangings folded, 
the object that at first sight appeared in fiill view was 



356 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECTACLE Book X. 

the celebrated Mount Ida, immortalized by the poet 
Homer. A wooden structure of considerable height 
and magnitude was contrived with precise similitude, 
by the hand of the artist, covered with living trees and 
real turf, whence a few goats were to be seen here 
and there clipping the herbage. From the summit a 
fountain discharged its waters downwards in a rivulet. 
There, also, was to be seen Paris the Phrygian shep- 
herd, a youth clad in the beautiful national costume, 
whose short barbaric cloak hung flowing over his 
shoulders, and whose head was encompassed by a 
golden tiara. 

While Paris, thus attired, appeared to be guarding 
his flock, next came another handsome youth, con- 
spicuous for the abundance of his flowing flaxen hair, 
and uncovered, save with the mantle of a stripling 
thrown Kghtly across his left shoulder. From among 
his hair protruded a small pair of golden wings, which 
wings, together with his wand and caduceus, proclaimed 
him to be Mercury. Bearing in his hand an apple 
covered with gold leaf, and tripping lightly forward 
with the step of a dancer, he approached and ofiered 
the apple to Paris. Which done, and having expressed 
with graceful action the commands of Jupiter, he gave 
it him, and gracefully retracing his steps whence he 
came, forthwith made his exit. 

When Mercury had departed, the next personage of 
the diama that made her appearance was Juno, per- 
sonated by a damsel of a noble countenance, bearing in 



Book X. AT THE AMPHITHEATRE. 357 

her hand a sceptre, and wearing a white diadem upon 
her head. 

Juno was followed by another female figure, whom, 
by her bouncing gait, reader, thou wouldst at once 
have recognized to be Minerva. A shining helmet 
covered her head, an olive leaf crown encircled the 
helmet; and as she advanced with elevated shield, she 
brandished her spear as in the moment of battle. 

Third and last advanced a young beauty ; the divine 
hue of whose features and exquisite symmetrical form 
proclaimed to be Venus. Such was the heavenly 
whiteness of her skin, imperfectly concealed by a scarf 
of ocean-blue and slight transparent texture, which the 
sportive breeze dispersed abroad in fluttering folds, 
that one would have thought her newly risen from the 
waves. 

All the above mentioned Groddesses were respectively 
accompanied by their attendants. And now Juno, 
waited upon by two juvenile actors, representing Castor 
and Pollux, wearing on their heads round helmets re- 
markable for a cluster of stars on the summit, advanc- 
ing towards the shepherd youth in accordance with 
pathetic modulations of the flute, expressed herself by 
tranquil unaflected gestures, as if to solicit of Paris the 
palm of beauty, and promise him as a reward dominion 
over the entire Asiatic territory. Next came the 
warlike Groddess Minerva, likewise attended by two 
boys representing Tejirok and Fear, her arm-bearers, 
leaping with drawn swords in their hands as they 



358 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECTACLE Book X. 

advanced. Tlien followed a piper, sounding a warlike 
Doric melody upon an instrument wliidi, mingling a 
heavy buzzing sound with the sharp blast of a trumpet,* 
excited the vigorous agility of the dancers to an ex- 
traordinary degree. Eestlessly turning her head from 
side to side, and darting fierce glances from her eyes, 
Minerva, advancing with a hurried excited gait, ap- 
peared to promise Paris the renown of bravery and 
splendid trophies of war, provided victory in the con- 
test of beauty were her own. 

But, finally, lo and behold Venus advances with a 
sweet smile overspreading her countenance, and greeted 
by loud shouts of applause from the spectators in the 
cavea, stands in a still, graceful attitude in the middle 
of the stage! The Goddess was surrounded by a mul- 
titude of merry little boys', whom from their tiny 
plump, milkwhite limbs, thou wouldst not only have 
pronounced to be Cupids — such was the perfect re- 
semblance of their wings, their bows and arrows, their 
quivers and their torches, which, as if to illuminate 
their mistress at a nuptial banquet, they carried before 
her — but Cupids real and divine, either just risen from 
the sea or dropped down from heaven. In addition to 
the Cupids were also a numerous assemblage of un- 
married damsels of a lovely race, some belonging to the 
family of the fascinating Grraces, and others of the 
jocund Hours, all of whom throwing at the feet of their 

* Hence perhaps the origin of the bagpipe. 



Book X. AT THE AMPHITHEATRE. 359 

mistress loose flowers and nosegays, the offerings of 
spring, propitiated, tlie Queen of Love and Beauty with 
an artistical dance. Moreover, presently, while the 
hearts of the spectators were charmed with the sound of 
Lydian measures played on the pipes pierced with 
many holes, Venus more sweetly still began to put her 
limbs in motion and respond to the music by her 
gestures. Bending her head by degrees, slowly increas- 
ing in accordance with the soft delicate tones of the 
pipes, and with a gentle sinuous motion of the spine 
advancing with slow and hesitating steps, she no 
sooner had approached close to Paris, — darting piercing 
glances from her eyes, whose pupils at one moment 
appeared to leap from their sockets, and at another were 
languishingly half concealed, — than she seemed by the 
movement of her arms to promise him a damsel of re- 
markable beauty like herself, provided he gave her the 
preference. Whereupon, instantly and with a willing 
heart, the Phrygian youth extended to her the golden 
apple he held in his hand in token of victory. 

Here then is a lesson for you all, ye vilest of the 
human race, ye forensic cattle, ye vultures clad in 
gowns. How can you be surprised that the sentences of 
all our judges now-a-days are venal, when you perceive 
that even the great Jupiter, in a question agitated 
between Gods and men, elected in his council a 
rustic shepherd as a judge ; and the shepherd, for the 
sake of female beauty, consigned the whole of his 
kindred to perdition ? Aye, and by Hercules many of 



360 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECTACLE Book X. 

tlie judgments of more modern times are not less 
heinous. Did not tlie celebrated leaders of tlie Greeks, 
for example, allow Palamedes, renowned for wisdom 
and learning, to fall a sacrifice to false accusations, and . 
condemn liim to deatli as a traitor ? And did not they f 
again award the arms of Achilles to the mendicant 
Ulysses in contempt of the greatest and most powerful of 
warriors, Ajax? Finally, did not the Athenians, those 
cautious, prudent lawgivers, and masters of all the 
sciences, destroy the life of an aged philosopher of 
divine sagacity, whom even the Delphic Oracle pro- 
nounced the wisest of mankind? Did not they, 
through the envy and treachery of an infamous faction, 
suffer him who had restrained as with a bridle the ex- 
cesses of the youth, to be accused of corrupting the 
morals of the country, and poison him mth an herb, 
whose noxious pestilential juice has for ever branded 
them with the indelible stain of ignominy— him whose 
name is venerated, and sect esteemed the most con- 
ducive to consummate happiness, by the most egregious 
pliilosophers of the present day? But, reader, lest, 
calling me to account for this outburst of indignation, 
thou mayest exclaim, " 'Tis a thing unbearable to bear 
an ass preach philosophy !" I will rehnquish my digres- 
sion and return whence I departed to my story. 

So soon as Paris had dehvered his judgment, Juno 
and Minerva retired vexed and angry from the stage, 
showing by appropriate gestures indig-nation at their 
repulse. Venus on the contrary testifying her joy by 



Bookx. at the amphitheatre. 361 

gaiety and merriment, joined the clioir of dancers; 
while lo and behold at the same instant a jet of vinous 
fluid tinged with saffron burst forth from a concealed 
tube on the summit of the mountain, and rising to a 
considerable height, sprinkled on its descent the backs 
of the white goats with an odoriferous shower, that 
tinging their coats with yellow, improved their beauty 
and diffused its fragrance over the entire space of the 
cavea. Then, as if swallowed up in a chasm of the 
earth, the whole mountain disappeared. 

And now the dramatic performances being entirely 
concluded, preparations were immediately commenced 
within the amphitheatre for a spectacle of another de- 
scription. A female criminal recently condemned by 
the sentence of the Prefect to be thrown before wild 
beasts to be devoured, was about to be brought to 
execution. But, reader, here it behoves me, before I 
proceed farther, to give thee some account of the cir- 
cumstances that led to this woman's condemnation, 
which circumstances, so far as the story came to my 
knowledge, are as follows : — 



362 TENTH EPISODE. Book X. 



TENTH EPISODE. 

A WOMAN CONDEMNED TO BE THROWN TO WILD 
BEASTS. 

A certain man, about to depart from liome on a 
journey, commanded liis wife, wlio was daily expecting 
to be brougbt to bed, to put tlie infant to deatb, pro- 
vided it happened to be a female. The husband had 
also by the same wife a grown up son, who about that 
time had married the wretched Avoman whose deeds are 
about to be related. The husband departed on his way, 
and his wife gave birth to a daughter ; but influenced 
by maternal affection, and declining to obey the instruc- 
tions her husband had given her, she instead placed 
the infant in the care of one of her neighbours to be 
brought up privately. On the return of the husband 
from his travels she told him she had had a daughter, 
and had killed it. Meanwhile the child grew up and 
thrived in secret, until, arrived at woman's estate and 
in the flower of her age, her mother was desirous of 
disposing of her in matrimony. Unable without the 
cognisance of her husband to provide the damsel with 
a dowry suitable to her birth, but determining to 
acquit herself under existing circumstances to the best 
of her ability, she communicated the secret to her 
married son, and acquainted him of the existence of his 



Book X. TENTH EPISODE. 363 

sister. The young man, remarkable for the piety of 
his disposition, fulfilled his filial and fraternal obliga- 
tion in a manner conformable with his character, and 
preserved the secret of his noble house that had been 
confided to him, even from his own wife; but at the 
same time, yielding to the impulse arising from the 
ties of consanguinity, he persuaded her, on the pretence 
of a feeling of common humanity, to receive the damsel 
into her house as an orphan child without either father 
or mother. Subsequently he bestowed her in mar- 
riage with a liberal dowry on an intimate friend of 
his own. 

Hitherto the manoeuvre that had been arranged and 
conducted throughout with the most scrupulous pro- 
priety had succeeded admirably ; when alas, cruel 
fortune, from whom there is no escaping, directed the 
deadly glance of jealousy towards the young man's 
household. His wife accordingly beginning at first to 
entertain distrust of the new married damsel, ulti- 
mately concluded her to be a rival ; and her suspi- 
cions speedily increasing to a feeling of detestation, 
her hatred at last arrived at such a pitch that she 
determined to deprive her of her life. Accordingly 
she had recourse to the following wicked stratagem. 
Betaking herself to a farm of her husband's in the 
country, she summoned to her presence a slave of a 
character, though she could depend upon him herself, 
most foreign to fidelity ; and bade him go to the young 
damsel and request her immediately to come thither, 

R 2 



364 TENTH EPISODE. Book X. 

for tliat a certain young man, slie bade liim say, was 
desirous to see lier; and requested lier to hasten 
tiiitlier alone, unattended by any companion. Moreover 
tlie wicked woman gave the slave a ring which she 
stole from her husband, on purpose to show to the 
damsel, in order that the slave, by giving his story the 
appearance of truth, might the more readily induce her 
to come. The young damsel, observing the impression 
on the ring, and knowing it belonged to her brother, 
was readily taken by the bait laid for her with such 
infinite treachery, and falling at once into the snare, 
obeyed the instructions given her, and forthwith with- 
out hesitation hurried to the appointed place without a 
companion. The egregious wife, having got in her 
power the sister of her husband, being stung by jea- 
lousy to a furious pitch of madness, subjected her 
imagined rival to the most cruel torments, and, in 
ignorance of the relationsliip, notwithstanding that with 
her dying lips the other revealed the secret of her 
birth and education, and repeatedly called upon the 
name of her brother, relentlessly put her to death. 

A messenger having announced the awful tidings of 
her death to the young men, the husband and the bro- 
ther of the deceased, they both arrived at the spot 
without delay, and, sanctifying the funeral obsequies 
with most bitter lamentations, consigned her body to 
the sepulchre. Which done, her brother, unable to 
sustain the grief inflicted by the untimely fate of a sis- 
ter occasioned by a person who ought, of all others in 



Book X. TENTH EPISODE. 365 

the world, to be the last to harm her, so took her death 
to heart, that a violent overflowing of noxious bile 
ensued, and threw him into a burning raging fever. 
Upon this the wife, though she had long since relin- 
quished the title to the name of wife by her treachery, 
immediately went to a physician of notorious perfidy, a 
man who, a foe to human life, had numbered many a 
trophy in the struggle against nature, and whose right 
hand had oft times won tlie victory. Of him she de- 
manded a poison of instantaneous power, and on pro- 
mise of the payment of fifty sesterces obtained the drug 
she required, and thus in other words purchased the 
object of her wishes — the death of her husband. And 
now the wife, accompanied by the doctor, betook them- 
selves to the chamber where the sick man lay; and 
pretending they had brought with them a celebrated 
potion to which the epithet " sacred " had been applied 
by the learned in consequence of its excellent qualities 
for composing the stomach and removing the bile, — 
though, in fact, if it were sacred at all it was rather 
sacred to the interests of Proserpine, — the doctor, in 
the presence of several relatives and friends of the 
family, having first well stirred the contents of the cup 
with his own hand, extended it to the patient. 

At this moment the audacious woman, eager to possess 
herself of the money she had agreed to give for the 
potion, and at the same time rid herself of an accom- 
plice in her crime, took the cup out of the doctor's 
hand, and addressing him before all the persons present, 



366 TENTH EPISODE. Book X. 

" Best of doctors," said she, "prudent and learned as 
thou, art, it surely cannot offend thee that a wife, reli- 
giously anxious for the recovery of her husband, require 
of thee, as an indispensable act of piety, to make expe- 
riment of thy remedy. For how otherwise can I know 
that the cup in thy hand doth not contain noxious poi- 
son mixed with the beverage? I cannot therefore allow 
thee, nay, thou shalt not present it to the best of hus- 
bands till thou thyself hast swallowed a good portion of 
it." The doctor, on hearing these words of the trucu- 
lent woman, became all of a sudden so staggered and 
confounded at the desperation of the act, that, taken 
aback without time for reflection, and being momentarily 
deprived of his senses from apprehension lest the slight- 
est appearance of trepidation might betray his evil 
conscience, he put the cup to his mouth without delay 
and gulped down a large mouthful of the mixture. 
That done, the sick youth also took with confidence 
the cup that was oflered him and drank the remainder. 
The doctor was now in an extraordinary hurry to 
make the best of his way to his own house, where, in 
consequence of the manner in which he had done his 
medical business, and in order to furnish himself with 
an antidote to the poison, his immediate presence was 
indispensable. But the cruel woman, determining to 
complete the object she had undertaken, stuck close to 
him all the way with sacrilegious obstinacy, neither 
would she allow him to be the breadth of a nail away 
from her until, as she said, the mixture were thoroughly 



BookX. tenth episode. 367 

digested and its noxious or innocuous effects determined. 
Eventually when, after repeated prayers and entreaties, 
the doctor prevailed on her to leave him, the insidious 
pestilence had already passed through his stomach and 
affected his entire system with such force, that he was 
seized with a heavy fit of somnolency. Hardly able to 
proceed to his home, he arrived there with great 
difficulty, and had scarcely time to relate to his wife 
what, had happened and request of her to obtain, as the 
reward for putting two men to death, at least the smn 
of money that had been promised him for poisoning 
one, than the life in his body became extinct, and thus 
this celebrated doctor perished by a violent death. 

Neither did the young man, husband of" the wicked 
woman, live much longer, but afflicted with the same 
symptoms as the doctor, and bew^ailed by the menda- 
cious tears of his treacherous wife, he also died. 

When the funeral rites and ceremonies in honour 
of the deceased had been complied with, the widow of 
the doctor, after the interval of a few days, called upon 
the widow of the murdered youth, and demanded the 
promised reward for the double homicide. Upon which 
the murderess, like to herself at all times, pretending 
the appearance, although she was entirely void of 
honesty, replied in terms soft, smooth, and prolix, 
promising anything and everything, nay, even appoint- 
ing a certain day at an early period to pay the sum 
agreed upon — stipulating, however, in order to com- 
plete the business she had already begun, to be pro- 



368 TENTH EPISODE. Book X. 

vided with more of tlie poison. Into ttds snare, 
another of the many laid by this treacherous woman, 
the doctor's widow fell; and, desirous of ingratiating 
herself with her wealthy acquaintance, consenting with- 
out hesitation to do what the other required, she 
hastened back to her home, and straightway brought 
the box of poison^ with all that it contained. The 
widow of the unfortunate yoimg man, eager to execute 
the criminal designs she yet meditated, stretched forth 
her blood-stained hands to secure the powerful auxiliary. 
Unable to tolerate the claims of the infant daughter of 
her murdered husband, the legal heiress of his pro- 
perty, her gTeedy, grasping spirit impelled her to 
deprive her own child of life, in order to possess her 
patrimony. Certain, in case of the untimely death of 
the child, of the reversion of the inheritance, and proving 
herself as nefarious a parent as she had been a wife, she 
contrived a plan to suit her purpose ; and inviting the 
doctor's widow to dinner, administered the poison to the 
widow and to her own little daughter on the same day. 
The noxious beverage instantly destroyed the vitals 
of the child, and stopped its gentle breath; but the 
other, so soon as a tempestuous heaving of the lungs 
announced the meanderings of the detestable fluid 
within her, and an increasing difficulty of breathing 
added certamty to her suspicion, perceiving the truth 
at once, hurried without more ado to the house of 
the Prefect, as fast as she was able to go. Uttering 
the most piercing cries and lamentations, and earnestly 



Book X, \ TENTH EPISODE. 369 

entreating admittance, ]ier bewailings were so lond and 
clamorous, that a great assemblage of people was 
speedily collected on the spot; for which reason, as 
well as on account of the enormity of the crime she had 
to disclose, the house of the Prefect was immediately 
thrown open to her, and an audience permitted. There 
she had no sooner detailed the atrocities of the infamous 
woman from beginning to end, than she grew more 
and more giddy, a cloud overspread her senses, she 
compressed her lips, gasped for breath, ground her 
teeth, and falling at the feet of the Prefect in strong 
convulsions presently expired. The Prefect, an expe- 
rienced magistrate, instantly proceeding to investigate 
the manifold poisonings of the murderess, suffered not 
the scent to grow cold. Summoning, therefore, to his 
presence the chamber-women of the criminal, and 
extracting from them the truth by torture, he con- 
demned the culprit to a punishment which, although 
the most suitable he was able to devise, was infinitely 
less than she deserved. She was ordered to be thrown 
before wild beasts, to be devoured. 

END OF TENTH EPISODE. 



Now while I was remaining outside the entrance of 
the -amphitheatre, and preparations were going on 

R 3 



370 LUCIUS ESCAPES, Book X. 

witliin for exliibiting tlie awful spectacle to tlie vast 
concourse of spectators, a soldier, in compliance with 
tlie expressed will of the people for the immediate pro- 
duction of the criminal, having been dispatched to the 
public prison to demand her forthwith, had already 
departed, and Avas proceeding along the middle of the 
street directly on his way thither. Whereupon, beginning 
to entertain very serious apprehensions regarding my 
own safety, and considering, that whatever description 
of wild beast might be let loose to tear the wicked 
woman in pieces, there were none so well trained, none 
so discreet and moderate in their appetite, as to be 
likely to abstain from devouring me into the bargain, 
notwithstanding I had committed no crime, and no sen- 
tence of death had been passed upon me — meanwhile, 
having the more leisure to indulge in my reflections, as 
my master and most of his family were at the time busily 
engaged in preparing the wild, beasts for their onslaught, 
and the remainder, exclusively absorbed in their own 
amusement, had little attention to bestow on a mild, 
steady jackass, like myself, — I had ruminated on the 
subject for some time, when a thought suddenly struck 
me, that I determined to put in execution. Accord- 
ingly, moving gently away by slow degrees, and pro- 
ceeding with furtive step to lift one foot gently after the 
other till I reached the nearest gate of the city, I then 
suddenly struck oiF m a gallop, and galloped at my 
utmost speed six luiles on end, till I came to Cenchrese. 
Tliis city, which I reached in an extremely short space 



Book X. AND GALLOPS TO CENCHREiE. 371 

« 
of time, said to be tlie noblest of the Corinthian colo- 
nies, is washed by the ^gean Sea, and possesses a safe 
and much-frequented harbour for ships in the Saronic 
Gulf. But retiring far from the busy multitude, and 
selecting a sequestered spot on the sea-shore, I stretched 
myself at full length on the bosom of the soft sand, where 
my wearied body was sprinkled and refreshed by the 
spray of the ocean. For already had the chariot of the 
Sun completed its daily course, and the tranquil still- 
ness of the evening hour invited repose. 



372 NIGHT SCENE ON THE SEA SHOKE. Book XI. 



BOOK XL 



A Night Scene on the Sea-shore — Prayer of Lucius to the 
Goddess Isis — Auspicious Appearance and Answer of the 
Goddess — Procession of the Goddess — Lucius recovers his 
proper Shape — Address of the Priest of Isis to Lucius — 
Ceremony of the dedication of a Ship to the Goddess — 
Pieligious ceremony in the Temple — Lucius recovers his 
White Horse — Initiation of Lucius as a Priest of the God- 
dess Isis by Mithras her High Priest — Lucius sets sail from 
Cenchreee and arrives at Eome — Second and third ceremonies 
of Initiation to the Mysteries of the Gods Osiris and Serapis 
— Lucius received into the College of the Pastophori. 



About the first watch of the night, suddenly awaken- 
ing from a sound sweet sleep, I started in a panic, and 
looking around me, perceived, amid the silent shadowy 
nocturnal solitudes that I had procured by my flight, 
the moon's full orb, just emerged from the waves of the 
sea^, shining with a degree of whiteness unusually 
bright and glittering. Knowing that the all-powerful 
Goddess of Night, excelling in the attributes of majesty 
all the other deities, not only extended her providence 
to human affairs, domestic cattle, and the beasts of the 
field, but that things inanimate vegetated under her 
influence, and even bodies in the earth, in the sea, and 
the firmament, obediently increased with her incre- 



Book XI. PRAYER OF LUCIUS TO ISIS. ^ 373 

ments, and lessened with her wanings, I resolved, now 
that Fate at last seemed to proffer me a tardy hope of 
deliverance from my grievous and manifold sufferings, 
to offer up my supplications to the august image, and 
address myself in mental prayer to the deity in 
whose presence I was. Briskly springing on my feet, 
and shaking off the remains of drowsiness, I commenced 
by bathing in the sea for the sake of purification, and 
in obedience to the precepts of the divine Pythagoras, 
who has propounded the number seven as the most 
suitable for religious ceremonies, I dipped my head 
seven times in the waves. That done, while joy and 
alacrity animated my bosom, despite of my sorry, dole- 
ful ass's countenance, I poured forth the feelings of my 
heart in silence, and addressed the powerful divinity 
to the following effect : — 

" Queen of Heaven, whether it be thou that art 
the benign Ceres, first mother of the fruits of the earth, 
who in joy at the discovery of thy daughter reclaimed 
mankind from the ancient savage nutriment on the 
acorn, and giving them a better and sweeter food, now 
tillest the Eleusinian soil — or whether thou art the 
celestial Venus that hast associated together the sexes 
in mutual love from the beginning of all things, and 
now that thou hast caused the offspring of the human 
race to be perpetual, art adored in thy seagirt temple at 
Paphos — or whether thou art that Goddess, sister of 
Apollo, whose sootliing remedies comfort women in 
travail, and art now worshipped, after bringing innu- 



374 PRAYEE OF LUCIUS TO ISIS. Book XI. 

merable multitudes into tlie world, in tlij far famed 
sbrine at Epliesus — or, finally, wliether thou art tlie 
triple-faced Proserpine, by whose hand the mortal limits 
of the earth's boundary are determined; at whose 
terrible countenance the midnight ghosts shrink ap- 
palled and cease their bowlings ; and who, wandering 
through sacred groves, many and various, art propitiated 
by a multitude of different rituals — illuminating the 
walls of many cities sunultaneously with thy feminine 
lustre, nourishing by thy liquid beams the joyful 
seeds of the earth, and substituting thy quivering light 
for the bright rays of the sun, — to thee, whatever be 
thy name, — whatever the fitting forms and ceremonies 
to address thee, I offer up my prayer. Assist me in 
the depth of calamity, restore my broken fortunes, 
impose a truce on my sufferings, and terminate the 
cruel labours and vicissitudes I have endured. Deprive 
me of the dire form of a quadruped ; gladden the eyes 
of my relatives with my human countenance ; restore 
me to the figure of Lucius. Albeit, if it be the inex- 
orable cruelty of an offended deity that presses upon 
me ; if I be not permitted to exist in human form — 
then let me die." 

Having now concluded my supplications I became 
oppressed with grief, and for a considerable while 
lamentmg my unfortunate condition, my fainting heart 
at last was overpowered with drowsiness, and I sank 
down to sleep on the same bed on the sand where 
I had lain before. But lo and behold, I had scarcely 



Book XI. APPEARANCE OF THE GODDESS. 375 

closed my eyes wlien a celestial vision appeared to me. 
I saw a divinely beautiful female countenance, sucli as 
even tlie Gods themselves miglit venerate, emerge from 
tlie middle of the ocean, whence rising by degrees 
above the surface of the water, the body at last became 
visible, and finally, the entire dripping figure seemed 
to stand before me. Were it not that the poverty of 
human language forbids the endeavour, or were the 
divinity herself to supply a sufficient stock of eloquence, 
then, reader, I might peradventure be enabled to de- 
scribe to thee this wonderful apparition, although 
under present circumstances I can do no more than tell 
thee in the first place, that over her divine neck her 
long thick hair hung in graceful ringlets, curling more 
and more towards the extremities, and that on her head 
she wore a crown of complicated form. The crown at 
the top was encircled by a garland of flowers of various 
sorts, and upon the middle part that rested on her 
forehead was a flat polished circle like a looking-glass, 
or rather like the moon itself, which emitting a white 
light, was bounded on the right and on the left by ears 
of corn, and by vipers that seemed to be rising out of « 
the furrows of the earth. Her dress was of linen cloth, 
woven of fine flax, and coloured with various difierent 
colours. A portion was yellow, like the crocus flower, 
some of a flaming rosy red, and a part clear shining 
white. But what most of all perplexed my sight and 
enthralled my senses was her cloak of the deepest, 
splendid lustrous black, that, thrown from below the 



376 ' APPEAEANCE OF THE GODDESS. Book XL 

right side over tlie left shoulder, and there confined 
with a knot like the boss of a shield, and gracefully 
joined in front by ligatures along the edges, hung 
pendulous in multiplied folds. In the middle of the 
garment, whose entire surface, as well as of the border, 
was covered with groups of glittering stars, appeared a 
central ornament, the figure of the moon a fortnight 
old, that breathed a flaming radiance. Finally, attacheci 
to this beautiful cloak, as it were by self adherence, 
clinging to the drapery in whatever direction it was 
wafted by the breeze, was a garland of flowers and 
apples. The objects that the Goddess carried were of 
difierent description ; for in her right hand she bore a 
brazen timbrel, * encompassed by a narrow rim, bent in 
the form of the girdle of a man's body, and famished 
with three transverse chords, which, as the instrument 
was shaken by a movement of the arm, emitted a sharp, 
harsh sound. In her left hand she held a golden 
vessel! in the shape of a boat, upon whose handles, 
on the most salient point of each, an asp, its throat 
swollen to an extraordinary width, reared its head on 
high. On her ambrosial feet were sandals formed of 

* Crepitaculum. Sulostitiited in the interpretation of the 
Paris Dolphin edition by the word " Sistrum,"" whence possibly 
" strum ;" a term, though not recognized b}' lexicographers, 
common enough in vernacular English, applied to the playing 
or rather hammering upon a musical instrument. 

^ Cymhium. In like manner a term bearing joint reference 
to the form and purpose of a vessel to hold fluid, is preserved to 
the present day, — " sauce boat," "butter boat," &c. 



I 



Book XI. ANSWER OF THE GODDESS. 377 

leaves of the palm tree, emblematic of victory. Sucli 
was the appearance of the divinity that, breathing 
the flowery perfumes of Arabia the Happy, addressed 
me in the following terms : — 

" Behold me, Lucius. The parent of universal 
nature attends thy call. The mistress of the elements, 
initiative germ of generations, supreme of deities, 
queen of departed spirits, first inhabitant of heaven, 
and uniform type of all the gods and goddesses, propi- 
tiated by thy prayers, is with thee. She who governs 
with her nod the luminous heights of the firmament, 
the salubrious breezes of the ocean, the silent, deplor- 
able depths of the shades below, one sole divinity 
under. many forms, worshipped by the different nations 
of the earth under various titles, and with various 
religious rites; called by the early Phrygians Pessi- 
nuntica, mother of the gods ; by the aboriginal inhabi- 
tants of Athens, Cecropian Minerva ; and by the mari- 
time inliabitants of the island of Cyprus, Papliian 
Venus ; by the arrow-bearing Cretans, Diana Dictynna ; 
by the three-tongued Sicilians, Stygian Proserpine ; 
and by the Eleusinians, the ancient goddess Ceres ; 
she whom other nations respectively call Juno, Bellona, 
Hecate, Ehamnusia ; but whom the Ethiopians, illu- 
minated by the first of the Sun's rays, the Arii and 
the Egyptians, surpassing all others in ancient learn- 
ing, distinguish by her true and proper denomination, 
Queen Isis — is present to thee, favourable and propi* 
tious. Dry up thy tears ; cease thy lamentations ; the 



378 ANSWER OF THE GODDESS. Book XI. 

day of thy deliverance shall speedily, tlirougli my 
providence, shine upon thee, provided thou bend thy 
mind attentively to the instructions I shall give thee. 

" The morrow that from the present night will have its 
birth, is a day that eternal religion hath appointed as a 
holy festival, at a period when, the tempests of winter 
having subsided, the waves of the stormy sea abated, 
and the surface of the ocean become navigable, my 
priests dedicate to me a new ship, laden with the first- 
fruits of spring at the opening of the navigation. 
Await then the coming ceremonial with becoming 
reverence, and when thou shalt perceive walking in 
the ranks of the procession the priest, who at my com- 
mand will bear a crown of roses attached to the sistrum 
that he carries in his right hand, let not thy mind be 
overborne by undue solicitude, but follow without 
hesitation. Fearlessly relying on my protection, press 
thy way through the masses of the surrounding multi- 
tude, until thou hast approached the priest I tell thee 
of, and when thou art close, advance gently and soberly 
as if thou wert about to kiss his hand. Then from the 
sistrum pluck the roses with thy lips, and straightway 
the sorry form that now thou bear est, a form that long 
mine eyes have beheld with detestation, shall depart 
from thee. Think not to encounter difficulty in doing 
as I command thee. Even at the instant while I am 
with thee here, I am also present in another place, 
admonishing my priest in a dream, predicting the 
events about to happen, and the acts he must perform. 



Book XL ANSWER OF THE GODDESS. 379 

Moreover, at mj command, the dense population sliall 
give way before thee. Neither, of those assembled at the 
festive scene to view the joyful ceremonial shall a 
single individual view with abhorrence the deformity 
of thy present figure, or put a malignant, criminal 
interpretation on the phenomenon, when thou shalt 
suddenly be restored to thy proper shape. But, re- 
member, clearly understand, and always preserve one 
thing buried m the depths of thy heart Throughout 
the entire course of the remainder of thy life, until thy 
very last breath hath vanished from thy lips, thou 
art devoted to my service. To the service of her who 
has restored thee to mankind and human life, that life 
will surely without regret be dedicated. Nevertheless, 
under my protection will thy life be happy and 
glorious; and when, thy days being spent, thou shalt 
descend to the shades below, and inhabit the Elysian 
fields, there also, even in the subterranean hemisphere, 
shalt thou pay frequent worship to thy propitious 
patron, whom now thou seest. For there will she be, 
shining resplendent amid the darkness of Acheron, 
and extending her dominion to the utmost limit of the 
Stygian regions. Yet farther. If, through sedulous 
obedience, rehgious devotion to thy ministry, and 
inviolable chastity, thou shalt prove thyself a worthy 
object of divine favour, then shalt thou feel the in- 
fluence of the power that I alone possess. The num- 
ber of thy days shall be prolonged beyond the ordinary 
decrees of fate." 



380 PROCESSION OF THE GODDESS. Book XI. 

So soon SiS tlie venerable oracle had concluded, the 
invincible divinity dissolved into itself, and I awoke. 
Sprinkled with the spray of the sea, and in a state 
of profuse perspiration, I instantly sprang upon my 
feet broad awake ; astonished exceedingly at the evi- 
dent, unquestionable apparition I had seen of the 
powerful goddess. Influenced at once by fear and joy, 
and intent upon the important commands I had re- 
ceived, I began to recollect and arrange in proper 
order the several things I had been told to do ; and 
continued to be thus occupied for a considerable time, 
until the Sun having dissipated the curtain of Night, 
his golden orb appeared upon the horizon. 

At this moment, the religious procession, as predicted, 
had already commenced, and crowds of people in 
triumphal guise blocked up the streets of Cenchreae. All 
the surrounding objects seemed to participate in their 
hilarity, and it appeared to me, in the joy of heart with 
which I viewed the spectacle, that the aspect of the 
cattle, every individual house, and even of the morn- 
ing itself, was unusually serene. Presently the frost 
of night had melted, the air became suddenly warm 
and still, and the little birds, rejoicing in spring's 
genial temperature, sang loudly in delightful concert, 
and soothed with their sweet warblings the mother of the 
stars, the parent of the seasons, aiid the mistress of the 
universe. Nay, even the trees themselves, — trees that, 
contented in their barrenness, had nought to afford but 
the shade of their boughs, as well as those destined to 



Book XL PROCESSION OF THE GODDESS. 381 

produce heavy autumnal crops of apples, — bent to the 
southern breeze their branches, glittering with bursting 
leaves, and agitated with a gentle motion, whistled to 
one another. The waves broke gently on the shore in 
regular succession; and now that the loud crash of the 
tempest was heard no more, and the turbid heavings of 
the ocean had subsided, the misty clouds disappeared, 
and the naked firmament was shining with clear splen- 
dour in its proper light, when the procession ap- 
proached the spot where I stood. 

Then commenced the prelude to the great cere- 
monial, beautifully enriched by the votive offerings of 
zealous individuals, and performed by many and various 
personages, in characteristic habiliments. First came a 
man who personated a soldier, girded with a belt about 
his Avaist, followed by another, whose scimitar, im- 
plements of the chase, and tucked up cloak, proclaimed 
to be a hunter. Afterwards appeared a man disguised 
in the garb of a woman, imitating the step and flowing 
gestures of a female, with gilded sandals on his feet, a 
wig of false hair on his head, and clad in a silken robe 
and costly apparel. Then came a fourth, conspicuous 
for his sword, his helmet, his shield, and his boots, 
whom, reader, thou wouldst instantly have said be- 
longed to the school of gladiators. Neither was there 
wanting one who, clad in a purple robe, and attended 
by the fasces, played the part of a magistrate. And 
another who, remarkable for the peculiar fashion of his 
cloak, wooden-soled sandals, staff, and a beard like a 



382 PROCESSION OF THE GODDESS. Book XI. 

he-goat, pretended to be a pMlosopher. There were 
also to be seen two other performers, one of whom, 
carrying in his hand a long reed, personated an angler 
with a hook and line, and the other bearing a reed also 
of a different description, besmeared with bird-lime, 
represented a fowler. Moreover I saw, first, a tame 
she-bear, dressed in the dress of a woman, and seated 
in a chair carried on men's shoulders. Next, an ape, 
with a plaited straw hat on its head, and a saffron - 
coloured Phrygian cloak on its shoulders, carrying a 
golden cup in its hand, in the character of Ganymede. 
And, finally, I saw an ass, with a pair of wings glued 
on his back, to imitate the winged horse Pegasus ; and 
a tottering, decrepit old man walking by his side, repre- 
senting Bellerophon in a manner that, together with 
the gait of the ass, reader, would have caused thee to 
smile. 

And now, among a variety of other similarly ludi- 
crous representations, that occasioned infinite delight 
to the populace, the tutelar Goddess, attended by her 
especial votaries, was exliibited with extraordinary 
pomp. The image of the divinity was preceded by 
women, dressed in brilliantly white robes, with gar- 
lands of leaves and flowers on their heads ; and as they 
walked along, they plucked flowers from their bosoms, 
and strewed them on the path of the sacred group 
behind. Moreover, upon their backs lustrous mirrors 
were suspended, that with reverent fidelity reflected 
the figure of the deity. Close at each side of the 



Book XL PROCESSION OF THE GODDESS. 383 

image otlier female attendants, with ivory combs in 
their hands, made believe, by the motion of their arms 
and the twisting of their fingers, to comb and ornament 
the Goddess's royal hair ; while some, from vessels they 
held in their hands, sprinkled perfumes and balsams, 
drop by drop, upon the streets. The image of the 
Goddess, offspring of the celestial stars, was farther 
propitiated by a great number of persons of both sexes 
in her rear, bearing lamps, torches, wax-candles, and 
other sorts of artificial lights, while a goodly choir of 
youths, clad in long, close-fitting robes of brilliant 
white, sang a beautiful hymn, composed under favour 
of the Muses by a talented poet expressly for the occa- 
sion, and accompanied by the sweet, lovely melody of 
the pipes. 

After these advanced, preceded by people proclaim- 
ing the approach of the sacred things, pipers, followed 
by the principal votive offerings dedicated to the great 
god Serapis, while upon reeds, inclining in an oblique 
direction towards the right ear, they played an intro- 
ductory melody, the same as they were used to perform 
in the temple of that deity. Afterwards came crowding 
forward, clad in linen robes of clear shining white, a 
great number of men and women of all classes, and of 
all ages, who had been initiated in the divine mysteries. 
The hair of the women was moistened by perfume, and 
enveloped in a transparent covering; but the men, 
terrestrial stars as it were of the great religion, were 
thoroughly shaven, and their bald heads shone exceed- 



384 PROCESSION OF THE GODDESS. Book XL 

inglj. Playing incessantly on sistra of brass, of silver, 
and even of gold, tlie sound produced by their instru- 
ments was sKarp and tinkling. After these followed 
certain priests of extraordinary stature^ bearing the 
sacred utensils. Clad in white linen robes, drawn tight 
across the breast, and close fitting down to the very feet, 
they extended to the ^dew of the public the symbolical 
insignia of the most powerful of all the divinities. The 
first, with outstretched arms, carried in his hands a 
lamp, not such as those connnonly used to illuminate 
evening banquets, but a lamp of gold in the form 
of a boat, that from an orifice in the middle 
emitted a flame of extraordinary brightness, and 
larger size than ordinary. The second, clad like the 
first, carried in each of his hands a small altar, such 
as, with symbolical reference to the auxiliary providence 
of the supreme Groddess, were called " auxilia.'" The 
third carried a golden palm tree, of which the leaves 
were most beautifully wrought, held in a perpendicular 
position ; and also he bore a caduceus, like the caduceus 
of Mercury. The fourth, as he walked along, displayed 
to the spectators the figure of a left hand, with the 
palm open and expanded, representing thereby a symbol 
of equity and fair dealing, of which the left hand, as 
slower than the right hand, and more void of skill and 
craft, is therefore an appropriate emblem. At the 
same time as he proceeded he poured on the gi'ound 
a libation of milk from a golden vessel made in the 
likeness of a woman's breast. The fifth bore a golden 



Book XI. PROCESSION OF THE GODDESS. 385 

corn-fan,* made with thick-set branches ; and the sixth 
carried an amphora. 

Immediately after all these came the images of the 
Gods, which condescending to avail themselves of the 
use of human feet, were borne on men's shoulders. 
One, a terrible figure, reared aloft the head and neck 
of a dog. Another represented the messenger of the 
celestial and infernal deities, with a face half black, 
half golden, bearing the caduceus in his left hand, and 
shaking a green palm branch in his right hand. Close 
following the footsteps of Mercury came one of the 
blessed ministry, who advanced with much gesticula- 
tion, bearing on his shoulders the symbol of the prolific 
Groddess, mother of all things,- — a cow,, supported in an 
erect attitude. Last of all appeared, preceded by a 
priest, bearing a capacious chest closely fastened, and 
filled with the secret utensils of the magnificent re- 
ligion, one who carried in his bosom an object that 
rejoiced the heart of the bearer, a venerable e^gj of 
the supreme deity, neither bearing resemblance to man, 
cattle, bird, beast, nor any living creature. An ex- 
quisite invention, venerable from the novel originality 
of the fashioning, a wonderful, inefiable symbol of 
religious mysteries, to be looked upon in profound 

* The " mystica vannus lacchi" evidently the origin of the 
fans of white peacock feathers (flahelli), with which at the 
present day the Pope'is shaded hy his attendants, in the grand 
ceremonial of the benediction of the people, &c. We see also, • 
in the procession of Isis, the prototype of the Eoman carnival. 

S 



386 PROCESSION OF THE GODDESS. Book XL 

silence. Such as it was, its figure was tliat of a small 
urn of burnislied gold, hollowed very artistically, 
rounded at the bottom, and covered all over the outside 
with the wonderful hieroglyphics of the Egyptians. 
The spout was not elevated, but extended laterally, 
projecting like a long rivulet, while on the opposite 
side was the handle, which with similar lateral exten- 
sion bore on its summit an asp curling its body into 
folds, and stretching upwards its wrinkled, scaly, 
swollen throat. 

But now at last the promised favour of the omnipo- 
tent Goddess Isis had arrived at its term of completion. 
I saw my destiny approaching. Lo and behold, pre- 
cisely as prefigured by the divine oracle, advancing 
at the close of the procession, a priest bearing, attached 
to the sistrum he carried in his right hand, the token 
of my dehverance— a crown of roses ! A crown ? By 
Hercules, to me a crown of victory. For now through 
the Providence of the great Goddess was I about to 
overcome that same Fortune who had wrestled with me 
so long and cruelly, and afflicted me with all the 
troubles and perils I had undergone. Agitated to an 
extraordinary degree by a sudden burst of joy, I 
nevertheless restrained my inclination, and refraining 
from rushing forward boisterously, lest my quadrupedal 
impetuosity might disturb the order of the religious 
procession, I gently sidled along, and by an oblique 
movement, with a placid, hesitating, as it were, human 
gait, crept gradually nearer and nearer. The people, 



Book XI. LUCIUS RECOVERS HIS SHAPE. 387 

meanwhile, under the influence of divine inspiration, 
retreated and made way before me, and the priest, who 
I could plainly perceive had received the admonition, 
of the nocturnal oracle, stopped all of a sudden of his 
own accord, and wonderstruck at the coincidence of 
present circumstances with his vision, held the crown 
of roses in his right hand close to my very nose. My 
limbs trembled and my heart throbbed with rapid pul- 
sation. I seized eagerly with my lips roses the most 
beautiful and brilliant, and greedily, most greedily de- 
voured them. Nor did the celestial promise deceive 
me. Instantly deformity slid away, as it were, from 
me, and I lost the form of a brute. First of all my 
rough hair peeled off in a continuous stream, then my 
thick skin became soft ; and afterwards, in rapid suc- 
cession, the size of my belly diminished, my hoofs dis- 
appeared, and the soles of my feet, whence toes and 
fingers sprouted, pressed the ground ; while my hands, 
now no longer feet, returning to their elevated position, 
resumed their pristine duties. My neck no more re- 
tained its extreme length, my head grew round, my 
face assumed human form, my enormously long ears 
shrunk to their original dimensions, my great stony 
teeth were as the teeth of a man, and the thing of all 
others, that with regard to personal appearance worried 
and displeased me the most — my tail — was nowhere to 
be seen. 

The metamorphose was accomplished with such ex- 
traordinary facility, that the senses of the priests and 

s 2 



388 ASTONISHMENT OF THE PEOPLE. Book XL 

ministers of religion, as well as of all the people that 
composed the vast multitude, were wrapt in profound 
astonishment at the sight of a testimony so magnificent 
of the power of the great divuiity, a spectacle rather 
resembling the nocturnal images of a dream than a real 
event. Lifting their hands in silent awe and venera- 
tion to heaven simultaneously, they all together poured 
forth their expressions of gratitude to the goddess for 
the signal mark of her favour. For my own part, 
riveted to the spot in mute stupor, and joy so excessive 
and overpowering that my heart was unable to contain 
it, I stood stock-still in a state of indetermination what 
I ought to do, or what I ought to say. While my 
mind was wavering as to how I should give first utter- 
ance to my voice — in what auspicious language I 
should begin — how most happily exercise my tongue 
new-born — or how find words sufficient to express my 
thanksgiving to the great goddess, the priest, seeing 
I was distressed at my present appearance before the 
multitude — for since I became divested of the ass's 
hide I had nothing to cover me — immediately, before 
tittering a syllable, knowing by divine inspiration all 
my troubles, and deeply affected by the miracle, 
nodded liis head, as a sign to one of his attendants to 
provide me with a linen garment. Accordingly, one 
of the religious persons belonging to the procession 
forthwith whipped off his upper tunic and threw it 
over me. 

And now the priest, whose benign countenance, by 



Book XI. ADDRESS OF THE PRIEST TO LUCIUS. 389 

Hercules, sufficiently betrayed .the surprise lie felt at 
my perfectly human appearance, addressed me in the 
following words: '^Oh Lucius," said he, "tempest- 
driven by the storms of Fortune, at last hast thou 
arrived in the haven of peace, and at the altar of pity, 
after the vicissitudes of thy long, toilsome career. 
Neither hast thou hitherto been shielded by thy birth, 
thy social position, nor by the learning in which thou 
art known to excel. During the boisterous season of 
youth thou hast given way to servile pleasures, and 
thy ill-fated curiosity hath reaped its just reward. 
Fortune, nevertheless, through her blindness, even 
while tormenting thee with the most grievous perils, 
hath conducted thee, as it were with improvident ma- 
lignity, to a life of religious beatitude. Let her now 
go her ways ; let her rage with her utmost fury ; and 
let her seek another victim for her cruelty.'^ Calamity 
hath no hold on those whom our goddess hath chosen 

* This passage — " Eat nunc, et snmmo furore sseviat, et 
crudelitati suse materiam quasrat aliam " — is alone sufficient to 
show that Lesage, when he composed Gil Bias, had in view the 
Metamorphoses of Apuleius. In addition to the coincidence of 
the cave of robbers, the robbers' narratives, Dame Leonarda, the 
captive damsel, and her escape with the hero of the tale, being 
persons and events introduced into both compositions, the above 
apostrophe to Fortune is rendered almost literally in Latin verse 
by. Lesage. The lines inscribed by Gil Bias, about to devote 
himself to a life of rural retirement, over the door of his house, 
are : — 

" Inveni portum, spes et fortuna valete, 
Sat me lusistis ; ludite nunc alios." 



390 ADDRESS OF THE PEIEST TO LUCIUS. Book XI. 

for her service, and. whom lier majesty hath vindicated. 
Oh wicked Fortune I who hath exposed thee to 
robbers, wild beasts, servitude, crooked winding paths, 
and grievous journeys ; who hath placed the fear of 
death continually before thine eyes, what hath it pro- 
fited her? For now thou art received under the 
guardianship, not of Fortune blind, but of that clear, 
far-seeing Fortune who illuminates all the other divini- 
ties by her nocturnal light. Then let joy, pure and 
bright as the white garment that now lies upon thee, 
exhilarate thy countenance. Follow the pomp of the 
goddess, thy deliverer, with triumphant step, and 
while thou art absolved from all thy former miseries, 
let the irreligious acknowledge their errors on behold- 
ing thee, and exclaim, * Lucius hath joyfully van- 
quished his evil destiny, through the providence of the 
great Isis ! ' Above all things, in order that thou 
mayst be the more secure and better protected, enrol 
thy name in this our holy army. Ere long thou wilt 
be bound by an oath in all due solemnity. In the 
mean time devotedly dedicate thyself to our religion ; 
voluntarily bend thy neck to the yoke of its ministry; 
and then when thou hast begun to serve the goddess 
wilt thou more truly rejoice in the fruit of thy liberty." 
Here the worthy priest, his chest heaving violently 
under divine inspiration, and panting for breath, con- 
cluded his address ; upon which, immediately stepping 
forward, I mixed amid the throng of religious func- 
tionaries, and accompanied the procession. All the 



Book XI. SHIP DEDICATED TO ISIS. 391 

way we went I was a marked and conspicuous person- 
age to the citizens, while the people, nodding their 
heads and pointing at me with their fingers, exclaimed, 
" That is he, lookye, he whom the august, omnipotent 
divinity of the goddess hath just restored to the form 
of a man." " Aye," said another, " blessed and thrice 
happy, by Hercules, is he to have merited, by the 
innocence and faith of his past life, such special patron- 
age of Heaven ; thus after a manner to be born again, 
and be at once betrothed to the service of the holy 
ministry." In this manner the people continued to 
make observations concerning me, and greet me inces- 
santly with their noisy congratulations, till at last 
we arrived at the very spot on the sea-shore where on 
the preceding night I had lain down on the sand. 

The ship of which I had been already forewarned in 
my vision was there already, and the chief-priest with- 
out more ado proceeded immediately to consecrate and 
dedicate it to the goddess Isis, Accordingly, the 
chaste, holy man, first having caused the images of the 
gods to be arranged in proper order, commenced by 
the most solemn prayers the ceremony of purification, 
which was most carefully performed with an egg, 
sulphur, and a lighted torch, according to the proper 
rites. This auspicious ship was of beautiful form and 
variegated appearance, covered all over the outside 
with the wonderful hieroglyphics of the Egyptians. 
The mast, a tall pine-tree, round and polished, was 
already raised, and remarkable for the elegance of 



392 SHIP DEDICATED TO ISIS. 

the yard at its summit, while "apon her splendidly 
white sail was written in large characters an inscrip- 
tion expressive of good wishes for the prosperity of the 
convoy. The keel was entirely of pure citron- wood, very 
highly polished, and the gilded stern was formed after 
the fashion of a goose's neck. So soon as the purifica- 
tion was concluded, the priests and others belonging to 
the procession, as well as the laity and all the people, 
brought corn-fans laden with aromatics, and vied with 
one another in giving these, as well as other sacrificial 
offerings, until the lading of the vessel was completed 
by their bountiful contributions. And now all things 
being ready, and the auspicious devotional ceremony 
concluded, a libation of certain ingredients mixed with 
milk was poured upon the waves, and the ship was 
slipped from her moorings. As a gentle, peculiarly 
favourable breeze was blowing when she put to sea, 
while we remained on the spot so long as she appeared 
in view, she soon became as a speck on the ocean, 
through the intervening distance, till we could no 
longer distinguish her. Then the bearers of the sacred 
things took up each what he had brought, and we all 
joyfully returned to the place whence they had come 
— the temple. 

So soon as we arrived, the chief-priest, the bearers 

of the divine images, and all those persons who had 

been initiated into the venerable secret mysteries, were ' 

admitted into the sanctuary* of the goddess, where 

* Cubiculum, or &a\a(j.o9. 



Book XL CEREMONY IN THE TEMPLE. 393 

tliey deposited the inspired effigies according to the 
accustomed forms. Then when the latter formality 
was over, one of the initiated, commonly called the 
scribe, who stood outside the door of the temple, 
mounted into a high pulpit, and in a tone as if he were 
proclaiming a meeting, having called together the 
priests composing the sacred college of the Pastophori, 
he read the following votive address from the book in 
which it was written: "To the great Prince, to the 
Senate, to the Equestrian order, and to the Eoman 
people, in sailing ships, all things in all parts of the 
world subject to our dominion." He then dismissed 
the people by pronouncing, according to the Greek 
custom and in the Grreek language, the words " Aaois 
a(psa-i^.'' Which latter announcement was received 
with a general shout that testified the approbation of 
the people, who, overwhelmed with joy at the auspi- 
cious conclusion of the ceremonial, and having kissed 
the feet of a silver image of the goddess on the steps 
of the temple, returned to their homes, bearing olive 
branches, sweet herbs, and garlands. For my part, 
I stood riveted to the spot, with my eyes intently 
fijced on the image of the goddess ; and being compelled 
by the feelings of my heart to remain there, I revolved 
in my mind all my past adventures. 

Meanwhile Fame ceased not for a moment to ply 
her unflagging wings, and speedily scattered abroad 
everywhere in the immediate vicinity of my home the 
intelligence of the memorable event that, through the 

s 3 



394 LUCIUS VISITED BY HIS FRIENDS. Book XI. 

adorable providence of tlie Goddess, liad befallen me. 
Accordingly my nearest relatives, my servants, and 
several of my acquaintance, whom, after tbe false 
accounts of my death, the sudden news delighted ex- 
ceedingly, recovering themselves from their grief with- 
out delay, departed from their homes, and hastened to 
Cenchrese. Anxious to behold the divine spectacle as it 
were of one risen from the dead, and returned from 
the shades below, they brought me presents of many 
and various kinds, which generous oblations, refreshed 
by the unexpected pleasure of seeing their faces once 
again, I received with much thankfulness; the more 
so as they had been careful to provide me with clothes 
and money, which I had most need of I had an inter- 
view with every one of them, and conversed with each 
on the subject of their respective departments ; which 
done, after giving them an account of the troubles 
I had suffered, and represented to them my happiness 
at the prospect now before me, I bade them adieu 
forthwith, in order to renew the sight of the object 
which, in the present state of my mind, gratified me 
more than everything. Eeturning accordingly to the 
image of the goddess, I procured an apartment within 
the enclosure of the temple, and there took up my 
temporary habitation. 

From that day forward I became an inseparable 
companion of the priests, assisted at all their private 
ceremonials, and was a constant regular w^hipper of 
the great Goddess^ Neither did I pass a single night 



Book XL LUCIUS'S VISION. 395 

afterwards, nor even a moment's sleep, witliout receiv- 
ing a warning from tlie divinity in a vision, bidding 
me prepare myself to be initiated in tbose sacred rites 
to which I had been long since destined. Notwith- 
standing, I know not how it happened, but having pre- 
viously made diligent inquiries, and reflecting on the 
difficulty of a full compliance with my religious duties, 
in consequence of the casualties, despite the most rigid 
circumspection, incident to a life of chastity and ab- 
stinence, I delayed from reverential dread to follow 
the natural bent of my inclination, from day to day. 
At last one night, lo and behold I had a dream. I 
thought the chief priest made his appearance with the 
bosom of his robe stuffed full of various things that he 
offered me. Upon which I thought that I asked him 
what all the things were? and that he replied that 
they had been sent to me from Thessaly, whence a 
servant of mine named Candidus already, he said, had 
arrived. When I awoke I considered for a good while 
the circumstances of the vision I had seen, and thought 
to myself over and over again what it could possibly 
mean, especially since I was quite sure I had no servant 
of the above name. At the same time the offering 
of the presents appeared to me a favourable presage, 
and likely to portend good one way or other, take it 
how I would. Thus remaining in a state of astonish- 
ment and anxious anticipation of a fortunate issue, I 
waited tijt.the doors of the temple were opened at the 
usual time in the morning. At last the hour arrived. 



396 LUCIUS RECOVERS HIS WHITE HORSE. Book XI. 

and tlie white curtains having been drawn back in 
opposite directions, we prayed in the venerable presence 
of the Goddess, while the priest, having put everything 
in order, walked round and round the altar, procured 
the consecrated materials, and making solemn supplica- 
tions, poured from a chalice upon the altar water 
drawn from a fountain within the sanctuary. Presently, 
the sacred rites having been properly performed, the 
voices of the priests burst forth in salutation of the 
dawn, and announced the first hour of the day. 

At this identical moment some of my servants who 
had remained in my own country since the time that 
through my unfortunate acquaintance with Fotis I had 
got my neck into a halter, now made their appearance, 
conducted hither by certain of my friends, and bring- 
ing with them the white horse I- had ridden in the 
beginning of my journey. The beast had been dragged 
about from place to place, and after being sold to 
many different persons, was recovered in consequence 
of being recognized from a mark on his back. Per- 
ceiving then the prescient wisdom of the admonition 
I had received, and its coincidence not only Avith the 
promises of gain I had anticipated, but with the re- 
covery of the white horse under the allegory of my 
servant Candidus, I became lost in admiration. 
Moreover, considering the benefits I was now receiving 
in the hght of a pledge for others I had reason to ex- 
pect, my mind became continually intent on the same 
object, and frequently and diligently attending the 



Book XI. ADVICE OF THE CHIEF PKIEST. 397 

offices of devotion, I felt a desire increasing more and 
more every day to be received into the lioly ministra- 
tion. Accordingly I entreated the chief priest earnestly 
and repeatedly to initiate me into the mysteries of the 
Holy Night, while he, remarkable for the gravity of 
his disposition, and for the exercise of religious ab- 
stinence, kindly and courteously,, after the manner that 
parents are wont to reply to the inconsiderate requests 
of children, checked my importunity, exhorted me to 
await with patience the proper opportunity, and soothed 
my anxious mind by representing the advantage of 
delay. ' ' The day of initiation," he said, " as well as the 
name of the priest appointed to perform the sacred 
rite, and the amount of expense necessary to be in- 
curred on the occasion, were things all invariably indi- 
cated by a sign and admonition from the Goddess her- 
self An event which," he added, " ought to be awaited 
with visible signs of humility, and under such a de- 
meanour, that, avoiding the extremes of precipitancy 
on one hand and contumacy on the other, I might be, 
when called upon, neither too ready nor too dilatory. 
Nor was there," he said, " a single one among the 
initiated of a mind so depraved or so bent on his own 
destruction as, without receiving a special command 
from his mistress, to dare to undertake the ministry of 
the Goddess rashly and sacrilegiously, and thereby com- 
mit an act certain to bring upon himself a deadly in- 
jury. For," continued he, '* the gates of the shades 
below and the care of our life being in the hands 



398 ADMONITION OF THE GODDESS. Book XL 

of the Goddess, the ceremony of initiation into Ker 
mysteries is, as it were, to suffer death, with the pre- 
carious chance of resuscitation. Wherefore the Groddess, 
in the wisdom of her divinity, hath been accustomed to 
select as persons to whom the secrets of her rehgion 
can with propriety be entrusted, those who, standing as 
it were on the utmost Hmit of the course of Hfe they 
have completed, may tlirough her providence be in a 
manner born again, and commence the career of a new 
existence. Wherefore," he added, " since, through the 
favour of the great deity, I was clearly and indisput- 
ably destined to become a happy member of her ministry, 
and had long since received a premonition, it behoved 
me in the mean time, in common with all other wor- 
sliippers of the most pure religion, to abstain from all 
manner of profane and forbidden food in order that I 
might be better prepared for the knowledge of her 
secret mysteries." 

Here the priest concluded his instructions^ and, from 
that time forward, determming no longer to allow 
impatience to corrupt my strict duty of obedience, my 
mind became intent upon pursuing a quiet, mild man- 
ner of behaviour, and I every day performed the sacred 
rites of worship in exemplary silence. Neither did 
the powerful goddess disappoint my hopes, or even 
torment me with a long-protracted period of delay. 
But, ere- long, on one' dark night, extending her salu- 
tary benevolence towards me, she admonished me, in 
terms thoroughly divested of obscurity, that the long- 



Book XI. INITIATION OF LUCIUS. 399 

expected day, when I should obtain the utmost extent 
of my wishes, was now about to arrive; intimating, at 
the same time, the sum of money necessary to be pro- 
cured by me to defray the expenses of the ceremonial, 
and nominating her own high-priest Mithras — to 
whom she said I was united by a certain divine con- 
junction of the stars — to perform the necessary sacred 
rites on the occasion. With a mind refreshed by these 
benevolent precepts of the supreme goddess, and others 
of a like nature in addition, I roused myself from sleep 
before it was perfectly light, and hastened without more 
ado to the apartments inhabited by the priest, whom, 
on my arrival, I met just coming out of his bed-chamber. 
I had no sooner saluted him, with the intention to 
renew my solicitations more earnestly than ever, and 
claim to be initiated in the ministry as a right now due 
to me, when he, speaking first, said, the moment he saw 
me, " Oh, my Lucius, thou art truly happy and blessed 
thus to be voluntarily and propitiously dignified by the 
august deity. Nay, why dost thou stand motionless ? 
Wherefore delay an instant ? The day which by thy 
earnest supplications thou hast prayed for hath now 
arrived, when by these hands thou shalt be initiated 
into the most holy mysteries of the many-titled goddess." 
The old man having thus spoken, courteously took me 
by the hand, and so conducted me all the way to the 
door of the very spacious temple, which was opened 
accordingly with all due forms and solemnities. Then, 
after he had celebrated the morning's sacrifice, he drew 



400 INITIATION OF LUCIUS. Book XL 

forth from tlie most secret and sacred place in the 
temple certain books that were deposited there, written 
in strange characters calculated to preserve them from 
the perusal of the inquisitive and profane, partly 
figures of various sorts of animals that expressed words 
compendiously, and suggested ideas to the mind; and 
some of other forms, either twisted like a knot, or 
round like a wheel, or tortuously involved with one 
another Uke the tendrils of a vine at their extremities. 

From these books the priest then informed me the 
things it would be necessary to provide for my initia- 
tion, all wliich articles I used the utmost diligence to 
procure, and purchased partly at my own expense and 
partly through the assistance of my friends, even more 
liberally than was required of me. At last, at the 
appointed hour, wliich was notified to me by the priest, 
he led me to the nearest baths, accompanied by a great 
concourse of people, where, after I had bathed in the 
usual manner, he first solicited forgiveness of the gods, 
and then sprinkled me all over with the clearest and 
purest water ; which done, two-thirds of the day having 
then already elapsed, he conducted me back to the 
temple, and placed me at the feet of the image of the 
goddess. There, after giving me some instruction that 
mortal tongue is not permitted to reveal, he then, 
addressing himself to me, in the hearing of all the 
bystanders, bade me for the succeeding ten days restrain 
my appetite, eat no animal food, and drink no wine. 

Having passed the whole prescribed period accord- 



Book XI. INITIATION OF LUCIUS. 401 

ingly in reverential abstinence, when tlie ten days were 
completed, and the time for pledging myself to the 
divine service had arrived, the snn had no sooner 
descended from his meridian course and ushered in the 
shadows of evening, than lo and behold, according to 
ancient custom, the people came flocking towards me 
from all directions to honour me with all sorts of 
presents. Presently all the profane having been removed 
to a distance, the priest threw over my shoulders a new 
linen robe, and forthwith led me by the hand into the 
farthest recesses of the sanctuary. 

And here, studious reader, peradventure thou wilt 
be sufficiently anxious to know all that was said and 
done, which, were it lawful to divulge, I would tell 
thee, and, wert thou permitted to hear, thou shouldst 
know. Nevertheless, although the disclosure would 
affix the penalty of rash curiosity to my tongue as well 
as thy ears, yet will I, for fear thou shouldst be too 
long tormented with religious longing and suffer the 
pain of protracted suspense, tell thee the truth not- 
withstanding. Listen, then, to what I shall relate. I 
approached the abode of death ; with my foot I pressed 
the threshold of Proserpine's palace. I was trans- 
ported through the elements, and conducted back 
again. At midnight I saw the bright light of the sun 
shining. I stood in the presence of the Gods, the gods 
of heaven and of the shades below; aye, stood near 
and worshipped. And now have I only told thee 
such things that, hearing, thou necessarily canst not 



402 INITIATION OF LUCIUS. Book XI. 

understand ; and being beyond the comprebension of 
tbe profane, I can enunciate witbout committing a 
crime. 

After tbe nigbt bad passed, and, morning baving 
dawned, tbe usual solemnities were at an end, I was 
consecrated by twelve stoles being put upon me, and 
tben led fortb in babiliments of sufficiently religious 
description, wbicb I am not probibited by any obliga- 
tion from describing, since at tbe time in question they 
were seen by all tbe people. My apparel was of linen, 
coloured of various colours, and a valuable cblamys 
reacbing to my ankles was thrown over my sboulders ; 
a cblamys, called by tbe priests tbe Olympic stole, 
tbat on wbicbever side it was viewed, was variegated 
witb figures of divers animals, including Indian ser- 
pents and byperborean griffins, wbicb latter creatures, 
bearing tbe wings of a bird, belong to anotber bemi 
spbere. Thus arrayed and adorned in babiliments 
brilliant as tbe sun at noon-day, and my bead gracefully 
encircled by a cbaplet of sbining palm-leaves tbat pro- 
jected all round like rays, I was made to ascend a 
wooden pulpit, placed in tbe very middle of tbe temple, 
in front of tbe image of tbe goddess, and tbere a lighted 
torch having been put in my hand, and myself placed 
in a proper attitude, standing still as a statue, the 
curtains before me were all of a sudden removed, and 
I was exhibited to the multitude. The remainder of 
the day, the first of my initiation, celebrated as my 
natal day, I passed in festivities, and enjoyed the 



Book XI. LUCIUS ADDEESSES THE GODDESS. 403 

delights of social conversation at a delicious banquet. 
On the third day afterwards the same religious cere- 
monies were repeated, including a religious breakfast, 
followed by a final consummation of ceremonial. 

After I had remained at Cenchrese a few days longer, 
during the whole of which period the sight of the 
divine image afforded me pleasure unspeakable that 
bound me in an irremunerable debt of gratitude, I 
received an admonition from the goddess to return to 
my home ; to comply with which, having reverently 
returned my thanks, insufficiently, though to the best 
of my ability, I tardily commenced preparations. After 
some time had elapsed, scarcely able to rend asunder 
the ties of the most ardent affection that riveted 
me to the spot, at last I cast myself on the ground 
before the image of the goddess, and watering its feet 
with the tears that copiously burst forth, I addressed 
her in the following words, that, interrupted with 
incessant sobs, were almost inarticulate: — "Oh holy 
and perpetual preserver of the human race, ever ready 
to cherish mortals by thy munificence, and afford thy 
sweet maternal affection to the wretched under misfor- 
tune ; whose bounty is never at rest, neither by day 
nor by night, nor throughout the very minutest 
particle of duration ; thou who stretchest forth thy 
health bearing right hand over the land and over the 
sea for the protection of mankind, to disperse the 
storms of life, to unravel the inextricable entanglement 
of the web of fate, to mitigate the tempests of fortune, 



404 LUCIUS ADDRESSES THE GODDESS. Book XL 

and restrain tKe malignant influences of tKe stars, — tlie 
gods in heaven adore thee, the gods in the shades below 
do thee homage, the stars obey thee, the divinities 
rejoice in thee, the elements and the revolving seasons 
serve thee. At thy nod the winds breathe, clouds 
gather, seeds grow, bnds germinate ; in obedience to 
thee, the earth revolves and the sun gives his light; 
'tis thou who governs the universe and treads Tartarus 
under thy foot ; the majesty of thy presence terrifies 
the birds that hover through the air, the wild beasts 
that wander over the mountains, the serpents that hide 
in the eartli, and the monsters that swim in the sea. 
The barrenness of my heart renders me incapable to 
utter thy praises, and my slender patrimony to offer 
thee becoming sacrifices; neither have I eloquence of 
speech to proclaun what I think and feel of thy 
majesty. But had I a thousand mouths, a thousand 
tongues, and a never ending flow of language, 'twere 
alike insufl&cient ; wherefore will I, poor as I am, do 
all I am able, according to the utmost suggestions of a 
religious heart, — figure to myself, and preserve per- 
petually, locked up in the deepest recesses of my 
bosom, the image of thy divine countenance, and thy 
most holy divinity." 

Wlien I had thus offered up my prayer to the 
supreme goddess, I embraced the priest Mithras, 
hanging on his neck, and kissing him repeatedly, as if 
he were my father. After thanking liim for all the 
great benefits he had conferred on me, asking liis for- 



Book: XL LUCIUS ARRIVES AT ROME. 405 

giveness for my inability to requite Mm sufficiently, 
and in a prolonged conversation repeating over and 
over again my expressions of gratitude, I finally bade 
liim adieu. I bad now determined to revisit my 
paternal abode after a long protracted absence, and in 
the course of a few days, accordingly, hastily collecting 
together my packages, I got on board ship and set sail 
towards Eome. Certain of a favourable wind, the 
voyage was -consequently rapid, and having speedily 
made the port of Ostia, I proceeded in a carriage to 
Eome, and arrived at the holy city on the evening of 
the day previous to the ides * of December. 

Thenceforward it was my principal study and prac- 
tice to offer up my suppKcations every day to the 
supreme di^dnity of Queen Isis, in a temple in the 
Campus Martius, called "Campensis," which is fre- 
quented with the deepest veneration. There, a stranger 
to the temple, though indigenous with the religion, I 
became a constant worshipper. 

Wliile in this manner I passed in succession all my 
days ahke, the glorious sun traversing the sign bearing 
circle of the Zodiac had completed the period of a year, 
when another example of the vigilant care of the truly 
beneficent divinity was manifested to me in my sleep, 

* Whether owing to errors and omissions in the various edi- 
tions, or otherwise, the period between the departure of the con- 
secrated ship in the spring, and the Ides, or the 12th of December, 
comprising the time while Lucius remained at Cenchreee and 
was on his voyage to Eome, seems insufficiently accounted for 
by Apuleius. But, sic in orig. 



406 INITIATION TO THE Book XI. 

and I was warned to undergo another initiation, and 
make preparations for tlie ceremonial. Naturally 
astonished and embarrassed at the thought of what 
was to be done, and what event was about to be de- 
veloped, since I considered myself fully initiated already, 
I arrived at last at the solution of the wonderful fact, 
partly by revolving in my mind my own religious 
scruples, and partly by applying to the priests for 
advice and information. 1 learnt finally that my ini- 
tiation hitherto related exclusively to the goddess Isis, 
and that, as yet, I was insufficiently illuminated in the 
mysteries of the great God, supreme parent of all the 
other gods, the invincible Osiris. For although there 
is a strict connexion between the religions of both 
deities, and even the essence of both divinities is 
identical, the ceremonies of the respective initiations 
are considerably diiferent. Wherefore I came to com- 
prehend that it was as a servant of the great god Osiris 
that I was now called upon and admonished. My 
mind however was not allowed to remain long in a state 
of uncertainty. For on the following night I had a 
dream, and thought that one of the religious function- 
aries clad in linen . garments and bearing in his hands 
thyrsi, ivy, and several other tilings I am not permitted 
to mention, entered my dwelling, and after laying the 
articles at the feet of my household gods, seated him- 
self in my chair, and recited all the things necessary to 
be prepared for a copious religious banquet. Then as 
if for the express purpose of affording me an opportimity 



Book XL MYSTERIES OF OSIRIS. 407 

of recognizing liim afterwards, he showed me as he 
walked with a gentle hesitatiag step, that the ankle of 
one of his feet was a little twisted. Consequently all 
manner of darkness and ambiguity was removed from 
the manifestation of the will of the Gods ; for the next 
morning, after performing the salutations to the Goddess, 
as I was diligently scrutinizing the appearance of all 
the religious functionaries in order to compare their 
likeness with him whom I had seen in my vision, I 
beheld one of the Pastophori, who, not only with re- 
gard to his figure, but his ankle also, resembled the noc- 
turnal image with extraordinary precision. Accord- 
ingly, without delay, addressing myself to this person, 
whose name I afterwards learnt was Asuiius Marcellus, 
a name (Asinius) bearing some degree of relation to my 
late metamorphose into the form of an ass, — I found 
that he, as well as myself, had been warned in a 
dream, and had received the necessary instructions re- 
lative to the commg ceremonial. For, on the preceding 
night, he had imagined in a vision, that while he was 
placing chaplets on the image of the great god Osiris, a 
voice proceeded from its mouth, whence the decrees of 
fate are proclaimed to all mankind, announcing to him 
that there would be sent to him an inhabitant of the 
city of Madaura, whom he must forthwith initiate in 
his mysteries ; a person who would obtain glory through 
devotion to his religious exercises, while through the 
providence of the deity considerable profit would accrue 
to himself. 



408 INITIATION TO THE 

These were the circumstances that caused me to be 
affianced to the holy ministry of Osiris, notwithstanding 
that the period of the ensuing ceremony was, contrary 
to my incKnation, retarded in consequence of want of 
money, proceeding from the diminution that my patri- 
monial resources had suffered during a long journey, 
and owing to my expenses in Eome greatly exceeding 
my disbursements in provincial cities. Urged there- 
fore on the one hand by divine commands, and tor- 
mented on the other by rigid poverty, I was in a painful 
dilemma, and as says the ancient proverb, in a state 
between the stone and the covenant,* while the admo- 
nitions of the deity continued none the less incessantly 
to urge and impel me. So frequently indeed were my 
nocturnal visions repeated, that stimulated at last to an 
excessive degree of perturbation of spirit, I took from 
my back the small garment that I wore, and selling it, 
was thus enabled to complete the sum of money re- 
quired. In doing so I complied with the precise 
terms of the precept announced to me, for, said the 
divinity, " How canst thou, when a ceremonial so im- 
portant is necessary to be undertaken, fear to commit 
thyself to a state of poverty which thou wilt never 
have reason to repent, or hesitate to dispose of garments 
which, long ago, hadst thou had occasion to procure 

* In allusion to the ancient manner of ratifying a covenant, 
where the priest killed a pig with a blow of a stone, exclaiming, 
as he struck the animal, " May Jupiter smite him who breaks 
this covenant as I smite this pig." 



Book XI. MYSTERIES OF OSIRIS. 409 

for thine own pleasures, thou wouldst readily have 
provided ?" Having, by the above means, got all that 
was required^ after abstaining from animal food for the 
space of ten days as before, 1 was not only admitted to 
the nocturnal orgies of the supreme god Osiris, but of 
Serapis also, and by divine permission fulfilled the kin- 
dred duties of the religion ever afterwards in full 
confidence. From which event I derived during my 
residence in a foreign country a vast source of comfort, 
and it was, moreover, the means of affording me a 
better livelihood. For the favourable breath of the 
propitious deity GoOD EvENT wafted me to the Eoman 
Forum, where I pleaded causes in the Latin tongue. 

A short period of time only had elapsed when lo 
and behold, I was once more again disturbed by the 
miraciilous and unexpected mandate of the gods, and 
compelled to undergo a third initiation. Wherefore 
my mind was filled with much anxiety, and I remained 
in a grievous state of suspense while I diligently turned 
in my mind over and over again, whither this new and 
unusual expression of the will of the gods was likely 
to lead me, or what possible supplemental particle of 
the twice-repeated ceremony of initiation could re- 
main to be performed. Either the priests, thought 
I to myself, have not expressed themselves sufficiently 
explicitly, or the counsel they gave me was rash and 
inconsiderate ; in short, by Hercules, I began to have 
serious doubts of their fidelity. At last, when my 
senses had been borne by the fluctuating tide of 
thought to the verge of insanity, the figure of the 



410 OSIRIS APPEARS TO LUCIUS. Book XI. 

benevolent deity appeared to me one niglit in a dream, 
and thus addressed me in tlie spirit of divination: 
* ' Let it not terrify tliee, nor think that thou hast 
omitted aught in the repeated series of religious rites 
that thou hast had to go through. Eather shouldst 
thou rejoice at the reiterated marks of favour of the 
divinities, and exult to have obtained thrice, what 
others seldom even once are permitted to receive. 
That number, confidently believe, will for ever render 
thee blessed. Besides, as thou wilt perceive upon 
reflection, the ensuing ceremonial is absolutely indis- 
pensable. For the sacerdotal garments of the goddess, 
with which thou wast first invested in the province of 
Achaia, still remain there deposited in the temple at 
Cenchrese. Neither canst thou be ennobled by that 
auspicious apparel, when thou hast occasion to invest 
thyself here in Eome, during thy supplications, or on 
solemn festivals, ^^lerefore, that thou mayst for ever 
enjoy health, happiness, and prosperity, under tutelage 
of all three powerful deities, submit thyself with joy fill 
heart to the third initiation." 

Thus far did the divine vision, in persuasive accents, 
prescribe what was necessary to be done. Neither did 
I supinely sufier the business to remain in a state of 
postponement and procrastination. On the contrary, 
immediately relating to the priest everything that had 
been announced to me, and having refrained from 
animal food as I had done twice before, nay, farther 
extended the observance by a voluntary vow of absti- 
nence and chastity for the entire remaining period of 



Book XI. LUCIUS A MEMBER OF THE PASTOPHORI. 411 

my life, I purcliased everything I had been instructed 
to provide for the ceremonial. Guided rather by the 
pious impulse of my heart than by rule and measure, ^i 
I had nevertheless no reason to regret either trouble or 
expense. For by Hercules, not only through the 
providence of the gods was I now furnished with a 
liberal income by means of my forensic emoluments, 
but very few days afterwards, during the silence of the 
night, the god Osiris, chief of the great, highest among 
the greater, greatest among the highest, and ruler 
of the greatest, condescended, not under a different 
figure, but in his own venerable person, to announce 
to me that I should forthwith become glorious and 
renowned through my pleadings in the forum. At 
the same time, bidding me no longer fear the jealousies 
and slanders to which learning acquired by laborious 
study had hitherto rendered me liable, he nominated 
me a member of the college of Pastophori; and in 
order to raise me above the ordinary ranks of my 
holy profession, also enrolled me among the number of 
his quinquennial decurions. Thenceforward I fulfilled 
my duty as a member of a most ancient college, that 
dates its origin from the days of Sylla, and with a 
head newly and thoroughly shaven, joyfully exposed 
my bald pate to the gaze of the multitude whither- 
soever I went. 

FINIS. 



1 
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